UK News
Starmer confirms UK will not support US blockade of strait of Hormuz – UK politics live | Politics
Key events
Badenoch says aligning with single market rules, but staying out of EU, ‘worst of both worlds’
Given how unpopular Brexit has turned out to be, you might think there would be limited appeal for the ‘Brexit betrayal’ counterattack as a response to the story about the government’s plans to align much more with single market rules. (See 9.39am.)
But Reform UK are happy with their old war cry. This is how Richard Tice, the party’s deputy leader, responded to the Guardian’s story.
Outrageous
Labour plots to deny MPs vote on new EU sell-out
Reform will reverse such a betrayal
Kemi Badenoch has been giving interviews this morning. Asked about the story on Sky News, she said aligning with the EU’s single market rules, while not being a member, would be “the worst of both worlds”. She went on:
It won’t help growth. Why should we be out of the EU, able to make our own choices and not take those decisions?
Remember we are a competitive, competing economy. Taking EU rules without having a vote on them is completely wrong.
If you want to be in the EU, come out and say ‘We want to go back into the EU’. That’s what they’re not brave enough to do.
So they’re picking this weird hybrid, which is the worst of both worlds. It’s not in the EU, it’s not out. It’s just doing whatever the EU is doing.
Government shift on intelligence evidence could revive delayed Hillsborough law
The delayed Hillsborough law could come into force after a shift by the government on forcing intelligence services to give evidence to public inquiries, Peter Walker reports.
Fried nuggets and steamed sponges off menu in school food overhaul in England
Keir Starmer is at a school in Angela Rayner’s constituency this morning (see 9.45am) to promote this government announcement about school food. Raphael Boyd has the story here.
Keir Starmer has joined his former deputy prime minister Angela Rayner and Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham on a school visit, the Press Assocation reports. PA says:
The trio joined up on Monday in the Greater Manchester area and put on a united front, despite Rayner previously appearing to challenge Keir Starmer’s leadership and Burnham being blocked from standing in the Gorton and Denton byelection.
They all shared a joke as they sat amongst schoolchildren, asking the youngsters about their favourite breakfast foods and favourite sports.
The visit comes after the government announced deep-fried food will be banned from school menus, with sugary treats limited.
Starmer defends proposed law letting Britain align with EU regulations easily, saying ‘closer relationship with Europe’ vital
In his Radio 5 Live interview, Keir Starmer was also asked about this Guardian story by Alexandra Topping and Peter Walker saying “ministers are planning to fundamentally reshape Britain’s relationship with the European Union, with new legislation that could result in the UK signing up to EU single market rules without a normal parliamentary vote”.
Starmer defended the proposed legislation, saying a closer relationship with the EU was in the national interest. He said:
We’re in a world where there’s massive conflict, great uncertainty, and I strongly believe the UK’s best interests are in a stronger, closer relationship with Europe, whether that’s defence and security, of course, energy … and also our economy …
I think there’s also a sense, 10 years on from the Brexit referendum, that we’ve got to look forward now, not backwards.
Let’s not just have all the old arguments over the last decade. Let’s go forward and recognise that a stronger, closer relationship with Europe is in the UK’s best interest, particularly in a world that is as volatile as it is at the moment and I know that worries a lot of people.
In response to the suggestion that allowing the UK to align with EU regulation using secondary legislation amounted to integration by stealth, Starmer said this would only happen under a bill “voted on in parliament”.
Starmer confirms UK will not support US blockade of strait of Hormuz
Good morning. The parliamentary recess is over, the Iran war disaster isn’t, campaigning is ramping up because the May elections are less than four weeks to go, and there will be plenty for MPs to discuss as they meet in the Commons this afternoon. The full timetable, as usual, is down below.
Keir Starmer is in Greater Manchester this morning, on a visit linked to the English local elections. But he is expected to be in the Commons later giving an update on the UK response to the Iran war, and in an interview on Radio 5 Live a few minutes ago he confirmed that Britain will not join the US in enforcing the new blockade of the stait of Hormuz proposed by Donald Trump.
Asked if the UK would support the US with its blockade, Starmer replied:
We’re not supporting blockade.
Starmer confirmed that the UK does have “minesweeping capability”. He said he would not go into “operational matters”, but he confirmed that Britain has been talking with allies, in a reference to discussions on what could be done to keep the strait open after the conflict between Iran and the US is over.
Having the strait open was a priority, he said.
The strait is shut or not free for navigation in the way it should be. That means that oil and gas is not getting to market. That means the price is going up. That means everybody listening to this is facing higher energy bills. And I don’t want that to happen.
I want their energy bills to be stabilised and lower. And so it is, in my view, vital that we get the strait open and fully open.
I will post more from the interview shortly.
Here is the agenda for the day.
Morning: Keir Starmer is on a visit in Greater Manchester, and is doing an interview with Radio 5 Live.
Morning: Kemi Badenoch is on a campaign visit in Clapham, south London.
10.30am: Anas Sarwar launches Scottish Labour’s manifesto for the Holyrood election.
10.30am: Wes Streeting, the health secretary, gives a speech on NHS funding to the IPPR thinktank.
11am: Nigel Farage, the Reform UK leader, and Zia Yusuf, the Reform chair, hold a press conference.
11.30am: Downing Street holds a lobby briefing.
Noon: The Southport inquiry publishes its phase one report.
2.30pm: Steve Reed, the housing secretary, takes questions in the Commons.
After 3.30pm: Starmer is expected to make a statement to MPs about the Iran war and his tour of the Gulf last week.
If you want to contact me, please post a message below the line when comments are open (between 10am and 3pm), or message me on social media. I can’t read all the messages BTL, but if you put “Andrew” in a message aimed at me, I am more likely to see it because I search for posts containing that word.
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UK News
Surrey v Leicestershire, Notts v Glamorgan, and more: county cricket, day four – live | County Championship
Key events
Aha! time for some Mitch Stanley. Tall and strong, relaxed run up, urgent arms. Derbyshire 21-1, chasing 138. Came is tempted, but doesn’t get a touch. A maiden.
A third wicket for Notts this morning, as Ingram follows in the footsteps of Tribe and Carlson. Glamorgan 167 for five and urgently battening down every loose hatch.
Beyers Swanepoel cleared to play for Worcestershire
After his ill-advised early flight to New Road, Swanepoel has belatedly been given his No Objection Certificate by Cricket South Africa, and will play in Worcestershire’s next game against Kent at New Road. Nice gentle start there.
Olly Hannon-Dalby, who came in as cover, took six wickets in the victory against Middlesex.
“Morning Tanya,” hello Mike Bennett!
“Another gloriously sunny day here in Hove, and a pretty decent crowd in to witness the denouement of this twisting and turning match.
“Sussex will fancy their chances from here, and you’d think Jack Leaning will be eyeing up his first ton in a Sussex shirt.
“He and Price both looked in good nick yesterday and sensibly shut up shop a little in the last hour to ensure that they reached today with two recognised batters at the crease and the best chance of knocking the runs off.
“It’s been an enjoyable few days and I’m happy to have been able to catch every day of a CC match in the flesh for the first time in many years (with a shoutout to Sussex CC for very reasonable ticket prices and free entry on days 3+4) – thanks again to you for the sterling reporting from the blog and catch you later in the season!”
Thank you Mike, it is so good to have an extra pair of eyes around the grounds. Leaning (93) and Price (38) are still there and have reduced Sussex’s target to 59.
Ah, Jewell chips Bailey to midwicket. He drops his arms in disappointment. Derbyshire 10-1.
Jimmy Anderson from the Jimmy Anderson end. Jewell edges – but it skids along the ground. The long legged Tom Bailey not the long legged Mitch Stanley from the Statham end. If you’re at a loose end at OT, the sun is out and the stands are inviting. Derbyshire 6-0.
Lancs all out 156, Derbyshire need 138 to win!
A stat, from Paul Edwards: Derbyshire have successfully chased in the fourth innings at OT four times, but only once were they chasing over a hundred.
Harris has had enough and steps down the pitch, slamming Aitchison for four. Fancies doing it again next ball but is caught behind reaching for runs.
No idea what will happen next, Jimmy could bowl Derbyshire out for 34, or they could stroll to 138 two down. Over to you.
“In the first six overs,” says Ken Grime, “Marcus Harris has only faced six balls.” Ooops, and he might not face many more as Abbas catches Stanley’s thrusting front pad. “Jesus Christ” someone shouts from the dressing room. Lancs 156-9, lead by 133.
And events elsewhere too – Rory Burns bowled by Ian Holland for a duck; cuts and (maybe) edges onto his own stumps which splatter satisfyingly. Surrey 11-1, still 160 behind.
Bad news for Glamorgan as big hope Asa Tribe too is bowled, for 83 at Trent Bridge, Kiran Carlson already taking off his boots, caught off Pennington for 19. Glamorgan 139-4, needing another 339 to win.
Kyle Abbot picks up yet another five-wicket haul, sending Finlay Bean on his way as Yorkshire’s resistance continues to crumble. Yorks 74-6 need 352.
Lancs take a single to leave Mitch Stanley to face Muhammad Abbas. And he does alright, picking up two and playing a straight bat.
And the third! Aitchison on a hat-trick. A huge smile at the top of his run gets huger as Bailey plays inside the line and loses his stumps. Lancs 147-8. Mitch Stanley comes out, dropping his helmet and generally getting dressed as he does.
Second ball does it! Coughlin trudging back after a corking ball from Aitchison has him edging behind. Lancs 147-7, the lead 124.
The sun is bright at OT as Derbyshire mooch on the boundary rope waiting to take the field. Shoaib Bashir has his arms crossed chatting to his teammates.
Just the most perfect spring morning in Manchester, birds, blossom, the works. One to store up and remember in November. My husband heard his first willow warbler of the year too.
Derbyshire are hoping it stays that way. This was Zak Chappell last night:
“Harris is a class player but hopefully we can nip a couple out in the morning and chase around 160. As long as we have a clear mind and get through the new ball – that’s going to be important. Jimmy’s obviously going to be a handful but we’re just going to have to see where we are and build some partnerships.”
Sunday’s round-up
Somerset notched up 21 points at Chelmsford, thrashing Essex by 10 wickets. Craig Overton, in his vast Somerset sweater, added a couple of batters and a catch to his century on Saturday, a stand-in captaincy performance to remember. Essex inched a lead of just 47 and Archie Vaughan, Somerset’s second injury substitute, made a bid for a permanent spot by punching the majority of the runs himself, twice plonking Simon Harmer over midwicket for six.
A zinger of a catch by Matthew Potts sealed an innings victory for Durham at Bristol. Gloucestershire spent the day bailing out the bath with a teaspoon, but sank after tea. Cameron Bancroft (56) and Ben Charlesworth (26) added 101 for the first wicket as Gloucestershire followed on, but wickets fell afterwards, with three each for Callum Parkinson and Potts. Gloucestershire have no points after two games, after being deducted two for a slow over rate in round one.
A tight match at Lord’s was squeaked by Worcestershire, thanks to a tail-end 34 from Matthew Waite, who then removed Sam Robson and Ryan Higgins. A couple of run-outs sealed Middlesex’s fate.
Surrey were forced to take the third new ball at the Oval by upstarts Leicestershire. On a pastry pitch they amassed 691, their highest score against Surrey. There was a career-best 162 for Ben Cox, 100 for Stevie Eskinazi and the lead is an appetising 171.
Marcus Harris (58 not out) again rescued Lancashire, as they lost three for nought in their second innings, a balloon-pop collapse to leave them 23 for five. Mohammad Abbas and Zak Chappell found fire in the Old Trafford pitch for Derbyshire.
Zak Crawley was caught for five as Kent followed on against Northamptonshire; Asa Tribe’s 82 not out and repeated showers frustrated Notts as they set Glamorgan a mammoth 478.
A tight to and fro at Hove left Sussex needing 94 to beat Warwickshire, with five wickets in hand. Kyle Abbot’s four for 11 ensured Yorkshire made a terrible start in their pursuit of 426 against Hampshire.
Scores on the doors
DIVISION ONE
Chelmsford: Somerset 348 and 49-0 BEAT Essex 149 and 245 by ten wickets
Trent Bridge: Nottinghamshire 279 and 311-9dec v Glamorgan 113 and 132-2 Glamorgan need 346 to win
The Oval: Surrey 520 v Leicestershire 691
Hove: Sussex 204 and 234-5 v Warwickshire 267 and 264 Sussex need 94 to win
Headingley: Yorkshire 177 and 65-5 v Hampshire 251 and 351-5dec Yorks need 361 to win
DIVISION TWO
Bristol: Gloucestershire Durham 605-5dec BEAT 175 and 205 by an innings and 225 runs
Canterbury: Kent 178 and 162-3 v Northamptonshire 684-2dec
Old Trafford: Lancashire 351 and 147-6 v Derbyshire 374
Lord’s: Worcestershire 191 and 253 BEAT Middlesex 183 and 204 by 57 runs
Preamble
Good morning! There are just six games to keep an eye on today after stonking wins for Somerset and Durham and a squeakier one for Worcestershire at Lord’s.
I think we’re in for a thriller at Old Trafford, Lancs rebuilding from 23-5, and at Hove, where Sussex’s deep batting line-up needs just 94 against Warwickshire, five wickets left.
Asa Tribe is keeping Glamorgan alive at Trent Bridge, but Yorkshire and Kent are on very boggy ground against Hampshire and Northants.
And don’t forget to drop in at The Oval where there is a tiny possibility that the pitch has perked up enough for Leicestershire to give Surrey a fright.
It should be a nailbiter. Play starts at 11am and the kettle is on.
The move has raised questions over parliamentary scrutiny of future rules to deliver planned EU deals.
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“From talking to parents, head teachers and school governors in my constituency, I know that many are worried about the rising cost of food, and in many cases the current funding just isn’t enough, forcing schools to provide smaller portion sizes and poorer quality food,” she said.
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