UK Parliament Is Falling Down. Doing Nothing Is Not an Option.
Yet as the Houses of Parliament literally fall down around them, MPs will soon be asked to approve a restoration package likely to run into tens of billions of pounds. Even as they wince at the prospect of looming tax rises and painful cuts to welfare and overseas aid, MPs must finally take a decision about shoring up their decrepit workplace. It almost doesn't matter how they decide to do it. After years of procrastination in which they've been bogged down in technicalities, more inaction is a bad choice. They must take the political hit and commit to starting this much-needed work as soon as possible.
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Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
What we know about Trump and Starmer's meeting in Scotland
From trade deals to Gaza, here is what Keir Starmer is expected to discuss with Donald Trump at the US president's Ayrshire golf course. Sir Keir Starmer and Donald Trump have discussed a range of issues including the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and tariffs as the two world leaders met in Scotland. The US president hosted the prime minister at his Turnberry golf resort in Ayrshire on Monday near the end of his four-day visit to Scotland. The two leaders discussed securing food supplies into Gaza and efforts to reach a ceasefire deal, how to bring fighting in Ukraine to a halt, and whether or not the UK will be given more relief from US tariffs. One day after Trump announced he had agreed "biggest deal ever made' between the US and the European Union on Sunday, Starmer has been looking to secure a reduction on 25% tariffs on imported British steel. A deal still didn't appear to be on the cards at Monday's meeting, although Trump hinted that the UK would know "pretty soon" whether steel tariffs would be reduced, eliminated or raised to 50% as the US has for other countries. Here, Yahoo News takes a look at Trump's meeting with Starmer and what the two leaders discussed. Why is Trump here? Trump has been visiting his mother's ancestral homeland of Scotland since Friday for a mixture of business and pleasure. The president has been pictured playing golf at his Turnberry course in South Ayrshire and was also expected to visit his other course on the Menie Estate, north of Aberdeen, during his visit. He is expected to fly back to Washington on Tuesday (29 July), following his meetings on Monday with Starmer and Scotland's first minister John Swinney. Later on Monday, Trump will meet SNP leader Swinney, before the pair hold more formal talks on Tuesday as Trump prepares to open a new golf course in Aberdeenshire. Swinney has vowed to press Trump to exempt Scotch whisky from US trade tariffs, which he says are currently costing the local industry £4m a week. Swinney also promised to raise the situation in Gaza with Trump, as it was 'causing deep unease and concern and heartbreak within Scotland'. Asked during his meeting with Starmer about the SNP's push for a second Scottish independence referendum, Trump said he has heard "great things" about Swinney but that he does not want to "get involved" in UK domestic politics. Is this a state visit? This four-day trip is not a state visit, although Trump is scheduled to make a state visit to the UK between 17 and 19 September. It will be a historic first, as Trump is the first elected leader in modern history to be invited back for a second state visit to the UK – the first being in 2019 during his first term as president. The full details of the visit have not yet been released, but it will include a full ceremonial welcome and a state banquet at St George's Hall in Windsor Castle. There had been speculation the King would host Trump in Scotland at Balmoral or Dumfries House, after Charles wrote a letter to him in February inviting him to a state visit. However, it is understood that with the state visit scheduled just a few months later, both sides had agreed to wait until the formal gathering. Anti-Trump campaigners have said they plan to stage a mass demonstration in central London on the first day of his trip. Speaking on Monday (28 July), Trump brushed off suggestions he had been snubbed due to his visit being scheduled for party conference season, meaning he won't have a chance to address Parliament. 'As far as Parliament, if he wants me to speak in Parliament, I'll do it. But it doesn't have to be then, it could be some other time. Maybe we should save it for another time," he told reporters. What have Trump and Starmer been discussing? Starmer and his wife, Lady Victoria Starmer, were greeted with bagpipes as they arrived at Turnberry shortly before 1pm ahead of talks with Trump. Trump said the US and UK's so-called special relationship was "unparalleled" as the trio stood on the steps of his hotel before going inside for their meeting. On the two leaders' efforts to arm Ukraine and force Russia to the negotiating table, Trump suggested he would reduce a 50-day deadline for Moscow to agree to a ceasefire down to "about 10 or 12 days from today". "There is no reason in waiting", he said, adding that he was "very disappointed" with Putin's continuation of the war. Trump also praised Starmer's 'very strong stand on immigration' in an apparent reference to the UK's recent deal to return some migrants who arrive via the English Channel back to France. "Europe is going to is a much different place than it was just five years ago, 10 years ago," he said. "They've got to get their act together. "If they don't, you're not going to have Europe anymore, as you know it, and you can't do that. This is a magnificent part of the world, and you cannot ruin it." When asked about tariffs on Scotch whisky, Trump said: 'We'll talk about that, I didn't know whisky was a problem. I'm not a big whisky drinker but maybe I should be.' Beyond whisky, Trump hinted during the meeting that the UK will know 'pretty soon' whether or not tariffs on steel will increase to 50%, remain at 25% where they currently stand, or be eliminated. "These people are tough negotiators, OK. We're a big buyer of steel, but we're going to make our own steel and we're going to make our own aluminium for the most part," he said. "But we buy a lot of aluminium from right here and a lot of steel too." When the UK and US signed a trade deal in June, it reduced tariffs on car and aerospace imports to the US, but an agreement on a similar arrangement for Britain's steel imports was not reached. Concerns in the US over steel products made elsewhere in the world, then finished in the UK, are said to be among the sticking points on which Starmer will attempt to make progress. Trump also hinted that the US may not impose heavy tariffs on British pharmaceuticals, despite a plan to bring more of the industry's production back to the United States, telling reporters: "We certainly feel a lot better with your country working on pharmaceuticals for America than some of the other countries that were." Efforts to secure a ceasefire in Gaza and address the starvation among the Palestinian territory's population was also on Monday's agenda, with Starmer saying people were "revolted at what they are seeing on their screens". Speaking to reporters, Trump said 'other nations are going to have to step up', adding that the US recently provided $60m worth of food for Gaza and that "nobody even said thank you". 'No other nation gave money, I know the prime minister would, if he knew about it. And he really knows about it now, because we're going to be discussing it," he added. Click below to see the latest Scotland headlines During his meeting with Starmer, Trump said Hamas has become "very difficult to deal with in the last couple of days" because they "don't want to give up" the last 20 living hostages. 'We know where they have them, in some cases, and you don't want to go riding roughshod over that area, because that means those hostages will be killed," he said. The prime minister has condemned Israel for restricting the flow of aid into the territory, alongside the leaders of France and Germany. Washington has been far less critical of Israel, having provided money to the controversial Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, which has been criticised over the security of its distribution sites, as Palestinians have allegedly be shot at by Israeli troops as they attempt to collect aid. Trump told reporters that the US would set up food centres in Gaza without fences, where "people can walk in" with "no boundaries". 'We're going to supply funds, and we just took in trillions of dollars, we have a lot of money and we're going to spend a little money on some food," he said. 'And other nations are joining us. I know your nation's joining us, and we have all of the European nations joining us, and others also called and they want to be helpful." Despite their strong working relationship, there was an awkward moment between the pair inside Trump's hotel when he described London's Labour Mayor Sadiq Khan as a 'nasty person' who has done 'a terrible job'. "He's a friend of mine, actually," Starmer said, to which Trump replied: "I think he's done a terrible job. But I would certainly visit London." Trump also waded into UK domestic politics by saying he backed North Sea oil and gas, branding wind turbines 'ugly monsters'. After their meeting the two leaders will travel on together to a private engagement in Aberdeen. Read more US and EU agree trade deal - with bloc facing 15% tariffs on goods into America (Sky News) Palestinian state recognition is a one shot opportunity for Starmer – but what does he want to achieve? (The Independent) Scottish Secretary to give Donald Trump 'warm welcome' (The Telegraph) Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Trump hosts Starmer and Swinney for dinner at Aberdeenshire golf course
Donald Trump is hosting Sir Keir Starmer and John Swinney for dinner at his Aberdeenshire golf course during his four-day trip to Scotland. Scottish First Minister Mr Swinney plans to make the case for tariff relief on whisky and salmon to the US president directly. Sir Keir, meanwhile, travelled on Marine One with Mr Trump to Menie, Aberdeenshire, where he is due to open a new course on Tuesday. Demonstrators gathered in the nearby village of Balmedie to protest against Mr Trump's visit. A Scottish Government spokesperson said Mr Swinney would 'make the case for tariff exemptions for Scotland's world-class whisky and salmon sector directly with the president'. Asked earlier about tariffs on whisky, Mr Trump had said: 'We'll talk about that, I didn't know whisky was a problem. I'm not a big whisky drinker but maybe I should be.' Sir Keir arrived with Mr Trump on the president's helicopter on Monday evening following talks at his other golf course in Turnberry, South Ayrshire. They were greeted by a pipe band from Robert Gordon College, who played Scotland The Brave and were saluted by Mr Trump. Mr Trump had earlier spoken of his 'great love' for Scotland and said he wanted to see the nation 'thrive'. Sir Keir and the US president agreed in an earlier meeting that 'urgent action' is needed in Gaza and discussed Ukraine, trade and Mr Trump's upcoming state visit. Sir Keir shared plans to secure peace in the Middle East that he has been preparing with France and Germany, Downing Street said. It came after they took questions for more than an hour at Turnberry. The US president praised Sir Keir Starmer as a 'tax cutter' who did a 'great thing with the economy', and hailed both Sir Keir and Nigel Farage as 'great men'. 'I happen to like both men. I like this man (Sir Keir) a lot, and I like Nigel. 'And, you know, I don't know the politics over here. I don't know where they stand. I would say one is slightly liberal – not that liberal, slightly – and the other one is slightly conservative, but they're both good men.' He added: '(Sir Keir) did a great thing with the economy, because a lot of money is going to come in because of the deal that was made. But I think that immigration is now bigger than ever before,' he said. The president had earlier said he thinks Sir Keir, who has been in office for more than a year, will be 'a tax cutter'. Mr Trump was asked about trade talks under way to give the UK relief from his tariff regime for goods entering the US from other nations. He said he had 'a very big plan on pharmaceuticals' when asked if a planned import levy on medicines would affect the UK. 'We want to bring a lot of the pharmaceuticals back to America, where they should be,' he said. He later added: 'You also have a good pharmaceutical business – we'll be dealing with you on pharmaceuticals also – and we certainly feel a lot better with your country working on pharmaceuticals for America than some of the other countries that were … with the relationship we have, you would not use that as a cudgel. You wouldn't be using it as a block.' During the same press conference, Mr Trump described the Labour London mayor Sir Sadiq Khan as a 'nasty person' who has done 'a terrible job'. The Prime Minister intervened to say: 'He's a friend of mine, actually.' The question session inside the president's Turnberry resort came after he suggested that the UK is 'doing a fantastic thing' in trying to reduce immigration by small boat crossings. Mr Trump said he knows 'nothing about the boats' when asked about the issue but said 'my hats are off to you' if the UK is trying to reduce immigration. Sir Keir and his wife Lady Starmer were greeted by the president and a chorus of bagpipes as they arrived in South Ayrshire on Monday. When Mr Trump was asked about how he would deal with small boats, Sir Keir explained that it refers to people who are crossing the Channel. Mr Trump told reporters: 'If you're stopping immigration and stopping the wrong people … my hats are off to you. You're doing, not a good thing, you're doing a fantastic thing. 'So, I know nothing about the boats, but if the boats are loaded up with bad people, and they usually are, because, you know, other countries don't send their best, they send people that they don't want, and they're not stupid people, and they send the people that they don't want.' Turning to the Prime Minister, Mr Trump added: 'And I've heard that you've taken a much stronger stance on this.' The latest data from the Home Office indicates that 122 people crossed the Channel in small boats on Saturday. Around a hundred protesters gathered earlier at the Balmedie demonstration, with a few remaining as the US president arrived at his golf course.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Security shifts as Trump arrives in North East Scotland
The second phase of Donald Trump's visit to Scotland is underway, with the focus of the huge security operation shifting from Turnberry on the west coast to Menie in the north east. The political focus has moved, and intensified, too. Having struck a deal on tariffs with the European Union, the US president has been discussing a variety of topics. Gaza and Ukraine featured prominently in terms of international affairs. Energy policy and the effect of Mr Trump's tariffs on Scotch whisky exports to the US have come up too. In the north east of Scotland, it's not just Mr Trump's answers to some of these questions which are being scrutinised, but also those of Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Scotland's First Minister John Swinney. Both leaders are attending a dinner with Mr Trump at Menie, the president's golf resort just a few miles north of Aberdeen, a city known as the oil capital of Europe. Plenty of supporters of both Sir Keir and Mr Swinney have expressed disgust at their decision to dine with the Republican. Off the coast of the resort, several oil-related vessels can be seen, along with 11 wind turbines. The president tried to stop their construction and he is still angry about them. It's not just the view he doesn't like. Mr Trump has been critical of the scale, pace and nature of the transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy, which is the subject of intense lobbying here. Speaking alongside the Prime Minister at Turnberry earlier, Trump said: "Wind is a disaster in Scotland and across the UK. "When we go to Aberdeen, you'll see some of the ugliest windmills you've ever seen." As for Sir Keir, this is the first visit he has made to the north east since taking office just over a year ago. And he too is under pressure on the topic of energy. Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce argue that 5,000 jobs have "needlessly disappeared" from the UK's oil and gas workforce in recent years as a result of taxation levels under Conservative and Labour governments. The Prime Minister told reporters: "We believe in a mix. And obviously oil and gas is going to be with us for a very long time. "And, that'll be part of the mix, but also wind, solar, increasingly nuclear." Trade body Offshore Energies UK, formerly known as Oil & Gas UK, welcomed his comments. Chief executive David Whitehouse said: "If we are going to use oil and gas, let's produce it here - responsibly, with lower emissions, and with all the benefits to jobs, taxes and growth that come from homegrown supply. "Words matter and today's words from the prime minster were very welcome. What matters even more is action." However, climate campaigners have been highly critical. Environmental pressure group Uplift desrcibed Trump's demand for more drilling as "pure fantasy". Uplift's executive director Tessa Khan, said: "New drilling won't cut bills and, after 50 years of extraction, the basin is fast running out of gas – that's geology not a political choice. "Trump's knowledge of the North Sea is limited to his view from his golf course, so let's not listen to him when it comes to how we power our country." This view was supported by many of the protestors in Aberdeenshire who staged a demonstration outside the extensive police cordon around Mr Trump's Menie estate. They had complaints about the cost of security for the visit. And they criticised US policy on topics ranging from abortion to immigration. Campiagner Esme Houston from Aberdeen said: "We're here to tell Trump to leave, bluntly. We're not very happy with his persence in our city and in our country. Another protester, Hannah, said: "It's important to stand up for what we, as Scotland, believe in. What he's done to this community with his golf course is unacceptable." "There's issues with the environment. The community was promised things that weren't delivered. People were forced from their homes." Protestors also demanded urgent action on Ukraine and Gaza. Jonathan Russell, chair of CND North East of Scotland, said: "We've become obsessed by war rather than dealing with problems by discussion and neogitation." "Masses of money is being made out of people being killed, whether it's in Ukraine or Gaza. "Obviously the situation at present in Gaza is horrific and our government, as Trump, are all complicit with this. And it has to change." One thing remains consistent between the two halves of this trip. Golf. Mr Trump spent part of the weekend playing the game in Ayrshire and on Tuesday he will open a new 18-hole course at his Aberdeenshire resort. But among the pristine greens and carefully sculpted fairways of his luxury resorts there is no escaping those urgent, insistent questions about hunger and suffering among the ruins of war. Trump wants Scotland to 'thrive' as Swinney to press for tariffs cuts Trump agrees trade deal with EU president after round of golf Trump visit teases glimpse of independent Scotland Solve the daily Crossword
