Sue Gray has reportedly turned down Sir Keir Starmer’s offer to become an envoy to the nations and regions after months of speculation, it is understood.
It was announced that the prime minister’s former chief of staff would take up the role after she resigned from her position in October.
It comes amid claims that Starmer was poised to withdraw the job offer, while the Financial Times have instead reported that Ms Gray rejected the role after a period of reflection.
Earlier on Tuesday, Starmer announced an 81 per cent cut to emissions by 2035 during a speech at Cop29, but vowed that he will not be “telling people how to live their lives”.
The prime minister avoided saying what the cost would be to households, but said pledged that climate security offered a “huge opportunity for investment, for business, for British workers”.
He refused to comment on the absence of other world leaders, stressing that the UK was at the UN conference to “show leadership”.
Key Points
- Sue Gray ‘rejects Starmer’s job offer’ to become envoy for nations and regions
- UK pledges 81 per cent cut to emissions by 2035
- Prime minister avoids saying how much target could cost households
- Starmer says MPs must make own minds up on assisted dying Bill
- Cabinet split emerges as Streeting opposes assisted dying Bill
Government ‘negligently underestimated’ winter fuel payment cuts’ impact, say Tories
Tuesday 12 November 2024 16:00
Holly Evans
Ministers have “negligently underestimated” how many pensioners will “fall through the cracks” following cuts to winter fuel payments, the Tories have claimed.
Shadow work and pensions secretary Helen Whately also urged Labour frontbenchers to press Chancellor Rachel Reeves to “think again” about means-testing the payments worth up to £300.
From this winter, only people on pension credit or certain other benefits will receive the winter fuel payments while more than nine million others are set to be stripped of the allowance, which could save the Government more than £1 billion.
The Government has insisted the move is necessary to help fill a “£22 billion black hole” in the public finances inherited from the Tory government.
For the Conservatives, Ms Whately said: “This Government made a choice to take away the winter fuel payment from 10 million pensioners this winter and to rely on the notoriously underclaimed pension credit as a system of means-testing it.
“This choice will make life harder for pensioners across the country.
“It will see 750,000 of the poorest pensioners miss out on much-needed help with the cost of heating and, according to the party opposite’s own research, could lead to 4,000 additional deaths this winter.
“The Government knows this, that’s why they haven’t done an impact assessment and perhaps that’s why after seven weeks they still haven’t responded to the concerns of their own advisory committee.”
Oil and gas are gift of god, Azerbaijan president tells climate summit
Tuesday 12 November 2024 15:48
Holly Evans
Oil and gas are a “gift of god”, Azerbaijan’s president Ilham Aliyev has told the Cop29 climate conference – which is country is hosting.
Speaking to delegates at the United Nations summit, held in the capital city of Baku, Mr Aliyev defended his nation’s oil and gas resources.
He added that “countries should not be blamed for having [oil and gas] and should not be blamed for bringing the resources to the market, because the market needs them”.
Read the full article from Stuti Mishra in Baku here:
Gavin Williamson proposes more changes to House of Lords reform Bill
Tuesday 12 November 2024 15:34
Holly Evans
Sir Gavin Williamson has said he believes the proposed reform of the House of Lords does not go far enough, and that wider changes would be supported by the public.
The former education secretary, who has proposed seven amendments to the House of Lords (Hereditary Peers) Bill, said he wanted the Government to be more ambitious with its proposals.
Among Sir Gavin’s amendments are a proposal to remove bishops from the House of Lords, and to establish a minimum contributions level for peers.
He told the Commons: “There are a number of things that the Labour Party set out in its manifesto that I think do command wide and broad public support.”
He added: “What does, I believe, command broad public support is some of the changes that they set out for the House of Lords. I personally think… there is strong support in order to see an introduction of a minimum contribution in the House of Lords.”
Starmer due to return to the UK after one day at Cop29 summit
Tuesday 12 November 2024 15:20
Holly Evans
Sir Keir Starmer is due to return to the UK after attending the second day of the Cop29 summit in Azerbaijan.
In a speech to reporters, he said the UK is taking “urgent action” to tackle climate change and announced that the government would be cutting emissions by 81 per cent by 2035.
He is due to be represented by other ministers over the course of the next two weeks of the conference.
Labour grandee calls for the destruction of the family farm industry
Tuesday 12 November 2024 15:12
Holly Evans
Removing rights of hereditary peers is ‘essential’, says Labour minister
Tuesday 12 November 2024 15:00
Holly Evans
Removing the rights of hereditary peers to sit and vote in the House of Lords is “essential”, Cabinet Office minister Ellie Reeves has told the Commons.
Opening the House of Lords (hereditary Peers) Bill committee stage, Ms Reeves said: “This Bill is a matter of principle. In the 21st century it cannot be right for there to be places in our legislature reserved for those born into certain families.
“Having now seen all of the amendments tabled from parties from across the House, it is clear there is no principled objection to the aim of this Bill, which is to remove the right of people to sit and make laws in our legislature by virtue of an accident of birth.”
Ms Reeves said there are 88 hereditary peers in the upper chamber, with a pause on hereditary peer by-elections set to be in place until January 2026.
She said the Government “values the good work done by hereditary peers”, adding: “These reforms are not personal, but they are long-overdue and essential.”
Sue Gray reportedly decided ‘she doesn’t want’ new job offer
Tuesday 12 November 2024 14:42
Holly Evans
While reports in the guardian newspaper have suggested Downing Street were prepared to withdraw the offer, the Financial Times have instead claimed Ms Gray rejected the job.
“Sue has taken a decision not to take the role. She’s going to focus on other things,” an ally of the ex-civil servant told the FT.
They added: “She’s taken time to think about it properly, talking to stakeholders, but ultimately she’s decided she doesn’t want to do it.”
Previous reporting suggested Ms Gray was negotiating over the terms of the job and her exit from Downing Street.
Read the full story: Sue Gray ‘rejects Starmer’s job offer’ to become envoy for nations and regions
Tuesday 12 November 2024 14:34
Holly Evans
Sue Gray has reportedly turned down Sir Keir Starmer’s offer to become the prime minister’s envoy for the nations and regions, after months of speculation over when she would take up the role.
It comes amid claims the prime minister was poised to withdraw the job offer.
The PM’s former chief of staff was due to take up a role as “envoy to the nations and regions”, after she stepped down from her position at the heart of government in October.
Read the full article from Millie Cooke here:
Keir Starmer ‘set to withdraw Sue Gray job offer’
Tuesday 12 November 2024 14:21
Holly Evans
Sir Keir Starmer is poised to withdraw the offer of a new job to his former chief of staff Sue Gray, according to media reports.
Ms Gray was due to take up a role as “envoy to the nations and regions” after she resigned from her position at the heart of Government in October.
This followed intense media speculation about a power struggle at the heart of Downing Street.
The former chief of staff was said to be on a short break before taking up her new post but reports across the media suggest the Prime Minister is now likely to rescind the job offer over concerns about what exactly the role would entail.
On Tuesday, the Guardian newspaper reported that Downing Street is preparing to withdraw the offer, and also said there were concerns about the media attention which would likely follow her if she were to accept the role.
The Financial Times meanwhile said Ms Gray has now rejected the job.
Is the latest assisted dying bill likely to be made law?
Tuesday 12 November 2024 14:10
Holly Evans
The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill will be brought before the Commons in its entirety in the coming days, with a debate in the chamber scheduled for the end of the month. As it comes from the elected chamber, it will probably be similar to – but supersede and render redundant – an equivalent bill that is currently in the House of Lords, introduced by Charlie Falconer, a former lord chancellor.
The Commons version is a private member’s bill led by Kim Leadbeater, the Labour MP for Spen Valley. There will obviously be much focus on the details and safeguards in the bill, but there are increasing signs that the way the issue is being discussed may hamper its progress...
Read the full analysis here:
What must the UK do to reach the new goal of 81% emissions cut by 2035?
Tuesday 12 November 2024 13:55
Holly Evans
The Climate Change Committee recently warned that the UK is off track to meet its 2030 climate targets, with the country needing to drastically accelerate changes to high-emitting industries over the next decade.
According to the Government’s advisers, delivering on the target will mean ending heating homes with natural gas boilers, lower meat and dairy consumption and a switch to electric cars.
The CCC said electricity will need to be zero carbon by 2035, with a phaseout of gas power that does not have technology to capture and store its carbon emissions, and renewables – in particular offshore wind – generating 70 per cent of power.
It also said sales of natural gas boilers need to be phased out by 2033 with the majority of homes switching to heat pumps that run on electricity.
Sales of new petrol and diesel cars, motorbikes and vans, including plug-in hybrids, must be phased out by 2032, with most new sales ended by 2030.
People should also be encouraged to reduce their meat and dairy consumption by 20 per cent by 2030, which will free up land for restoring peatland so it absorbs carbon and to plant trees.
And cuts to demand for other carbon intensive activities will also be needed, including slower growth in flights, reductions in car travel, and cutting waste and boosting recycling, the advisers said.
Tories take narrow poll lead over Labour in Badenoch’s first week as leader
Tuesday 12 November 2024 13:40
Holly Evans
The Conservatives have taken a two-point poll lead over Sir Keir Starmer‘s Labour Party in Kemi Badenoch’s first week as leader.
The new Tory leader has taken the party to 29 per cent of the vote, according to pollsters More in Common, with Labour behind on just 27 per cent. It is the highest rating for the Conservatives since February.
It marks a remarkable fall from grace for Labour, which in July was elected to power in a landslide victory over Rishi Sunak’s Conservatives.
Read the full article here:
Top Blair adviser who said ‘we don’t need small farmers’ disowned by Starmer
Tuesday 12 November 2024 13:25
Holly Evans
Sir Keir Starmer has distanced himself from comments made by a senior adviser to Tony Blair after he said “we don’t need small farmers” during a discussion about the fury among farmers towards the inheritance tax rises announced in the Budget.
John McTernan, who was the ex-Labour PM’s political secretary, sparked fury as he said family farming is “an industry we can do without”.
The party grandee was asked about planned protests by farmers over Rachel Reeves’ Budget, which will mean they have to pay 20 per cent of tax on inherited agricultural assets worth more than £1m from April 2026. The change is being dubbed the “tractor tax” and has sparked outrage among farmers, who say it will threaten the UK’s food security and lead to the closure of family farms.
Mr McTernan said: “If the farmers want to go on the streets - we can do to them what Margaret Thatcher did to the miners.”
Read the full story here:
Keir Starmer dodges questions over Donald Trump climate fears at Cop29 summit
Tuesday 12 November 2024 13:10
Holly Evans
Trump’s approach to oil will not impact UK’s climate ambitions
Tuesday 12 November 2024 12:55
Holly Evans
Donald Trump’s “drill, baby, drill” approach to oil in the US will not hinder the UK’s net zero ambitions, energy minister Michael Shanks has confirmed.
Conservative former minister Andrew Murrison said: “Offshore wind has been a real positive for our energy security and grid independence, but unfortunately not when the wind doesn’t blow. Given the election of a president who tells us he’s going to ‘drill, baby, drill’, what revision does the minister anticipate to his timetable towards net zero?”
Mr Shanks told the Commons: “We’ll outline later this year our action plan on how we will deliver on 2030 but there’s no change to our timetable in that regard.
“But what it does show – he raises a good point around when the wind doesn’t blow and the sun doesn’t shine – about making sure that we have a mix in our energy system. That’s why we remain supportive of nuclear.
“It’s also why we’ve announced recently investment in long-duration energy storage to make sure we can capture that energy and use it when we need it.”
Government’s net zero ambition will lead to lower energy bills, says minister
Tuesday 12 November 2024 12:48
Holly Evans
The Government’s clean power by 2030 ambition will lead to lower energy bills, energy minister Michael Shanks has told the Commons.
This came in response to Conservative former minister Tom Tugendhat, who said: “I’m delighted that the minister is setting out the report that promises an extra £40 billion a year of investment in the energy sector, and presumably the taxes to go with it, which is of course going to come off the businesses that are otherwise paying for everything else in the Budget that’s just gone by.
“Is there anything at all in his proposal that’s actually going to bring down the cost of energy and not be replaced by taxpayer funding? Because it appears at the moment there is zero, and already energy prices are going up.”
Mr Shanks replied: “I would encourage (Mr Tugendhat) to read the NESO (National Energy System Operator) report, because it does in great detail set out that not only is clean power 2030 achievable, but that it will lead to lower bills.
“Companies are choosing to invest in this country when they didn’t under the party opposite and the reality that he has to answer is that once upon a time this party opposite recognised that the drive to net zero was important, they’ve abandoned that commitment now.”
Watch: Starmer pledges 81 per cent cut to UK emissions by 2035
Tuesday 12 November 2024 12:22
Holly Evans
Ed Miliband squirms when confronted over previous Trump comments
Tuesday 12 November 2024 12:11
Holly Evans
Starmer refuses to comment on absence of other world leaders
Tuesday 12 November 2024 11:51
Holly Evans
Sir Keir Starmer refused to be drawn on the absence of other world leaders at Cop29, saying the UK was there to “show leadership”.
Speaking to reporters, the Prime Minister said: “The central most important thing for me here at Cop is … to continue to show UK leadership on climate at this critical time and we will continue to do so, to make sure that we are the enablers of the leveraging of private capital now towards the targets that need to be set, to set our own target, as I have just done in relation to emissions.
“But, most importantly, to be clear that I see this not just as a global challenge, but a global opportunity.”
Prime minister avoids saying how much target could cost households
Tuesday 12 November 2024 11:40
Holly Evans
Taking questions from reporters at Cop29, Sir Keir Starmer avoided answering how much his new emissions target would cost your average household.
Asked if this could mean food becoming more expensive, he said: “We have set out the target which is an important ambitious target. What we are not going to to is start telling people how ot live their lives.
“We are not going to start dictating to people what they do. But we are going to be clear that that involves hitting the clean power 2030 mission that we have set out, one of five big projects for the Government, that is vital.
“We will hit that. It is an ambitious target, it is a realisable target but it is not going to be one in which we tell people how to live their lives.”
Starmer says he doesn’t want to be ‘middle of the pack’ in climate change
Tuesday 12 November 2024 11:35
Holly Evans
Setting the UK’s greenhouse gas emission target, Sir Keir Starmer said: “The race is on for the clean energy jobs of the future, the economy of tomorrow.
“I don’t want to be in the middle of the pack, I want to get ahead of the game.”
He told reporters at the Cop29 climate summit in Baku: “At this Cop I was pleased to announce that we are building on our reputation as a climate leader with the UK’s 2035 NDC target to reduce all greenhouse gas emissions by at least 81% on 1990 levels.
“But a global problem also requires global partnership, responsible international co-operation, which is why we took the opportunity at this Cop to again urge all parties to come forward with ambitious targets of their own.”
UK pledges 81 per cent cut to emissions by 2035
Tuesday 12 November 2024 11:28
Holly Evans
The UK has pledged an 81 per cent cut to emissions by 2035, Sir Keir Starmer said at the Cop29 conference in Azerbaijan.
Critics have previously argued that lifestyle changes will be required to meet strict emissions reduction targets, as Labour promises to move towards electriciy generation by 2030.
ScottishPower has also awarded a £1 billion turbine contract for its East Anglia Two offshore wind farm to Siemens Gamesa, including blade production at its Hull blade factory. It will employ more than 1,300 people in Humberside.
Prime minster says there are ‘two paths’ to address climate
Tuesday 12 November 2024 11:26
Holly Evans
Opening his speech at the Cop29 conference in Baku, Sir Keir Starmer has said there are two possible paths to address the escalating crisis of climate change.
He said the first is one of inaction and decay, while the second offers greater economic stability.
He added that invesment opportunities to tackle climate action offers opportunities, better jobs and ensures the prosperity of nations for the future.
Live: Keir Starmer unveils ambitious UK climate goal at COP29
Tuesday 12 November 2024 10:51
Holly Evans
Assisted dying is a ‘chance to act with kindness’, Westminster hears
Tuesday 12 November 2024 10:48
Holly Evans
An assisted dying law would offer people a choice “at their darkest hour”, a Westminster gathering has heard.
Nathaniel Dye, a man who has previously shared his experience of terminal cancer at Labour Party events, criticised suggestions that improvements to palliative care were the answer at an assisted dying press conference.
“Imagine I am dying and palliative care hasn’t improved. Well, I have no choice whatsoever: I die in pain or I die in pain,” he said.
He added: “I see this as a chance just to act with kindness and a choice for people at their darkest hour.
“I am not a doctor, I am not a lawyer, but I would just implore MPs and peers to really carefully consider these safeguards because I think it is the best phrase I have got: my very death depends on it.”
Rachel Reeves accused of business ‘betrayal’ as top bank warns tax hikes will hit living standards
Tuesday 12 November 2024 10:19
Holly Evans
Rachel Reeves’s increase in employer national insurance contributions (NICs) will hit workers’ living standards, Barclays has warned, amid growing backlash over the tax hike.
It comes as leaders of Britain’s biggest business organisations accused the Labour government of “betrayal”.
Economists at the bank said the policy would cause real incomes to take a hit, as companies pass on the cost of the levy through lower pay rises and higher prices. This, they said, will leave people feeling poorer as prices rise faster than wages.
Read the full article here:
Far-right leader beats Keir Starmer to front of queue for meeting with president-elect Trump
Tuesday 12 November 2024 09:49
Holly Evans
Keir Starmer has no plans to visit Donald Trump in Mar-a-Lago on his way to a meeting of the G20 group of world leaders next week, despite at least one ally making the trip.
Argentina’s libertarian President Javier Milei has been invited to see the US president-elect at his Florida club, amid speculation others will follow.
A supporter of Mr Trump, Mr Milei celebrated his election win with a fireworks display and posts on social media.
Read the full article here:
Assisted dying bill: What it means for patients?
Tuesday 12 November 2024 09:37
Holly Evans
A new law has been proposed to legalise assisted dying for some terminally ill adults in England and Wales.
Mentally competent adults with a life expectancy of six months or less who have a settled wish to die that has been approved by two doctors and the High Court would be able to do so under the proposed legislation for England and Wales.
Ahead of its publication on Tuesday, Labour MP Kim Leadbeater insisted her private member’s bill would offer the “safest choice” for mentally competent adults at the end of their lives.
Read the full explainer from Tara Cobham here:
Starmer will note tell people ‘how to live their lives’ as he sets out emissions goal
Tuesday 12 November 2024 09:19
Holly Evans
Sir Keir Starmer has said he will not be “telling people how to live their lives” as part of plans to reach the UK’s new emissions reduction target.
He will set the emissions goal out at Cop29 later on Tuesday but it has been reported that the UK will pledge to reduce its emissions by 81% compared with 1990 levels by 2035, a goal in line with the recommendation of the Climate Change Committee.
The Prime Minister was asked if he was prepared to get more people to change their heating systems and tell them to take fewer flights and eat less meat to reach that target.
“I’ll set out our goal later on today, but look, it will be ambitious, and that’s measured not by telling people what to do,” the Prime Minister told broadcasters in Baku.
“It’s measured by making sure that we get to clean power by 2030 – that’s the single most important target on the way to the emissions.
Labour MP says her only Bill has ‘three layers of scrutiny'
Tuesday 12 November 2024 09:01
Holly Evans
The Labour MP behind the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill said hers is the only Bill in the world with “three layers of scrutiny” in the form of sign-off by two doctors and a High Court judge.
She said the proposed legislation for England and Wales would offer the “safest choice” for mentally competent adults at the end of their lives and is capable of protecting against coercion.
The Bill, which was published on Monday night, runs to almost 40 pages, with around 20 pages of explanatory notes.
Critics say the Bill is being “rushed with indecent haste” and that MPs will not have adequate time to scrutinise the legislation before the November 29 debate and vote.
But Ms Leadbeater rejected this argument, saying almost three weeks is “plenty of time to look at the Bill” and is normal within parliamentary timeframes.
She also suggested any new law would not take effect for another two to three years, with “even more consultation to make sure we get it right”.
Ed Miliband says UK will find ‘common ground’ with Trump on climate change
Tuesday 12 November 2024 08:38
Holly Evans
The UK will seek to find “common ground” with Donald Trump on climate change, Ed Miliband has said.
The Energy Security Secretary suggested the US president-elect, who has described climate change as a “hoax”, could be swayed by the economic arguments for shifting to green power.
Mr Miliband told BBC Breakfast: “It’s our job to work with the duly-elected US president. He has his own views.
“I think what’s interesting about this – and you will see what decisions the new administration makes – is that the economics now point in the direction of clean energy.
“If you think about lots of the decisions that companies and countries are making, they recognise this is the single biggest job creator of our era, and so people want to be ahead in that race.
“So, we will seek to find common ground with Donald Trump, he will make his own decisions about what he wants to do. I obviously want him to stay in the Paris Climate Agreement, but that’s his decision.”
Cabinet split emerges as Streeting opposes assisted dying Bill
Tuesday 12 November 2024 08:20
Holly Evans
Health Secretary Wes Streeting has already said he intends to vote against the Bill, voicing his fears about coercion and people feeling a “duty to die”, while the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby has warned of legalisation leading to a “slippery slope” in terms of who is eligible.
High-profile supporters of a change in the law include Dame Esther Rantzen, who is terminally ill and revealed in December that she had joined Dignitas due to the current law.
Meanwhile, energy Secretary Ed Miliband said he intends to back the Bill.
He told ITV’s Good Morning Britain: “For my part, I know there are people who are in the late stages of terminal illnesses, and I think the current situation is rather cruel actually.
“I think people having control over their own life and their own death is something that is the right thing to do.”
Starmer announces £1bn wind turbine contract
Tuesday 12 November 2024 08:13
Holly Evans
Sir Keir Starmer has announced a £1 billion contract for wind turbine blades to be made in Hull.
The Prime Minister told broadcasters at Cop29 in Azerbaijan: “I think it’s very important for the United Kingdom to show leadership on the climate challenge. It’s a very important challenge of our time.
“It’s also, I’ve long believed, the single biggest opportunity for the next generation of jobs.
“And that’s demonstrated in the fact that this morning, here at Cop, I’m announcing a £1 billion order for blades for offshore wind, which would be jobs in Hull.”
Starmer says MPs must make own minds up on assisted dying Bill
Tuesday 12 November 2024 08:09
Holly Evans
Sir Keir Starmer has said Labour MPs must “make their own mind up” on whether to vote in favour of legalising assisted dying.
The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, from Labour MP Kim Leadbeater, was published late on Monday and runs to almost 40 pages, with a further 20 pages of explanatory notes.
Sir Keir was asked if he is going to vote in favour of the legislation and whether he has any concerns about potential coercion or issues raised by disability charities.
The Prime Minister said: “Look, it’s going to be a free vote and I mean that. It will be for every MP to decide for themselves how they want to vote.
“I’m not going to be putting any pressure whatsoever on Labour MPs. They will make their own mind up, as I will be.
“Obviously a lot will depend on the detail and we need to get the balance right but I’ve always argued there will need to be proper safeguards in place.”
Sir Keir has previously supported assisted dying, but said the Government will remain neutral on the issue. He has been careful not to express a view since the Bill was introduced.
Work and pensions secretary says figures are ‘holding economy back'
Tuesday 12 November 2024 07:39
Holly Evans
Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall said: “2.8 million people – a near record number are locked out of work due to poor health. This is bad for people, bad for businesses and it’s holding our economy back.
“That’s why our Get Britain Working plan will bring forward the biggest reforms to employment support in a generation, backed by an additional £240 million of investment.
“While it’s encouraging to see real pay growth this month, more needs to be done to improve living standards too.
“So, from April next year, over three million of the lowest-paid workers will benefit from our increase to the national living wage, delivering a £1,400-a-year pay rise for a full-time worker.”
Wage growth slows further as unemployment rises
Tuesday 12 November 2024 07:37
Holly Evans
Wage growth has fallen to its lowest level in more than two years while Britain’s jobless rate jumped by more than expected, according to official figures.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said average regular earnings growth eased back to 4.8 per cent in the three months to September, down from 4.9 per cent in the previous three months.
This marked the lowest level since the three months to June 2022.
Earnings growth continues to outstrip inflation, however, as pay increased by 2.7 per cent in the three months to September with Consumer Prices Index (CPI) inflation taken into account.
The ONS said the rate of UK unemployment rose to 4.3 per cent in the three months to September, up from 4 per cent in the previous three months
This was the highest level since the three months to May, although the ONS said the estimate should be treated with caution given ongoing low response rates to its jobs survey.
Downing Street respond to potential use of Storm Shadow missiles by Ukraine
Tuesday 12 November 2024 07:00
Alex Croft
Downing Street said “no war was ever won by a single weapon” when asked whether the UK was speaking to Joe Biden about the potential use of Storm Shadow missiles by Ukraine within Russia before Donald Trump enters the White House.
Asked whether Britain was in talks with the outgoing US President, following suggestions that Mr Biden could be asked about giving permission for the weapons to be used, a Number 10 spokeswoman said: “Our position on Storm Shadow hasn’t changed.
“We’ve always aid that where we discuss our support for Ukraine, we do so in terms of broader strategy to ensure that Ukraine is in the strongest possible position going forwards, particularly in the winter, and we’ve also been clear that no war was ever won by a single weapon.”
Starmer expected to travel from Paris to Azerbaijan for Cop29 talks
Tuesday 12 November 2024 06:00
Alex Croft
The latest UN climate talks kick off this week against a backdrop of devastating weather extremes, record heat and Donald Trump’s re-election as US President.
World leaders including Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer are heading to the opening summit of Cop29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, where they face pressure over delivering finance for poor countries to cope with climate change, and increasing their ambitions on emissions cuts.
The meeting is being held in the wake of the latest deadly weather events including floods in Valencia and Hurricane Helene in the US, which scientific analyses show were made more likely and intense by rising temperatures.
This year is on course to break temperature records once again and, as countries prepare to submit new plans for climate action by early next year, the UN has warned that existing policies are falling so far short the world is on track for a “catastrophic” 3.1C of warming.
Countries will also be grappling with Mr Trump’s return to the White House, in what analysts say is a trend of climate scepticism in elections this year.
ICYMI: UN climate talks start as experts warn 2024 is heading for record heat
Tuesday 12 November 2024 05:00
Alex Croft
The latest round of international climate talks have kicked off in Azerbaijan as the UN warns 2024 is set to be the hottest year on record.
Sir Keir Starmer, whose Labour Government has made clean energy a key plank of its plans for the UK, has headed to the Cop29 conference in Baku, Azerbaijan, although many leaders including the US and Chinese presidents and European heads of state are not attending the talks.
While the Taliban are among the delegations who are attending the conference, Downing Street said the Prime Minister had no plans to meet with them.
As the conference kicked off, the UN’s World Meteorological Organisation issued a “red alert” over the speed of climate change in a single generation, as it warned this year would break 2023’s record temperatures.
The WMO said the global average temperature for January to September 2024 was 1.54C above pre-industrial levels, based on analysis from six global datasets.
Read more:
Watch: Defence secretary dismisses suggestion Farage could help government with Trump
Tuesday 12 November 2024 04:00
Holly Patrick
