Wes Streeting in US for Hegseth meeting as Ukraine tensions escalate – UK politics live

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Half of surveyed Scots think SNP 'incompetent' as conference begins

These YouGov poll results will be pored over given the SNP conference is kicking off today – and PM Andy Burnham is due in town tomorrow.

The poll’s results have 50% of those surveyed saying the Scottish Party is “incompetent”, while 51% called it “untrustworthy”.

The poll shows First Minister John Swinney’s personal approval rating is down to 34% and 53% are unfavourable to him.

Students need to learn how to better articulate in age of AI - Education Sec

“With AI on the rise, we need to go harder on the skills that makes us human, like oracy.

“That ability to articulate yourself confidently is central to success in work and in life, but for too long it’s been a marker of privilege. Now it will become the right of every child - nobody left out because they can’t speak up.”

Paul Whiteman, the general secretary of the Association of Head Teachers, welcomed the emphasis on practical skills including oracy but said time would need to be made available.

“It is crucial that the ongoing review of the curriculum reduces other content in order to genuinely create the space to embed these skills, however. Teachers are already unable to cover the current curriculum in the time available.”

Wes Streeting’s meeting with his US counterpart Peter Hegseth at the Pentagon later today will be his first since becoming Defence Secretary in July.

Greens says Labour threat to end council deals over Zionism motion is 'undemocratic'

I reported earlier that the Labour party has instructed all of its councils in power-sharing deals with the Green Party to end the coalition arrangment if their Green counterparts do not condemn the ‘Zionism Is Racism’ motion passed at the Green conference 11 days ago.

There are 18 such councils in the UK potentially affected. Labour has asked each council group to write to their Green partners for “reassurances” that they condemn the policy, which PM Burnham called antisemitic.

If they don’t, Labour’s head office says the local Labour groups should end the power-sharing agreements.

The Green Party has responded saying such moves are “undemocratic”.

“For the Labour Government to conflate criticism of Israel with antisemitism is disappointing and wrong.

“Trying to tell local parties what to do and who they can work with is undemocratic.

“Whilst Labour continue to try to meddle in our internal democracy, arm a genocide and lock up protesting pensioners, we will not take lectures from them.”

The ultimatum will impact 17 councils across England and one in Wales, according to Labour. These are:

Derbyshire Dales (Lib Dem-led coalition)

Broadland (Lib Dem-led coalition)

West Suffolk (Labour-led coalition)

Arun (Lib Dem-led coalition)

Havant (Labour-led coalition)

Lewes (Green-led coalition)

Rother (Coalition led by local independent group)

Runnymede (Coalition with Lib Dems, Greens and local independent group)

Wealden (Green-led coalition)

West Oxfordshire (Lib Dem-led coalition)

West Sussex (Lib Dem-led coalition)

North Somerset (Lib Dem-led coalition)

West Devon (Independent-led coalition)

Monmouthshire (Labour minority-led coalition)

Coventry (Labour-led confidence and supply agreement with the Greens)

Stafford (Labour-led coalition)

Warwick (Green-led coalition)

Sheffield (Labour-led coalition)

The Liberal Democrats, who have also criticised the Green motion as “divisive” said they would leave it to thier local councillors to decide whether to end coalitions.

And for those who want to wade into the Manchester City football scandal, and what contacts the PM has had with the club, this week’s Politics Weekly episode delves into it.

Andy Burnham has been accused of a serious misjudgment over his comments about meetings with Manchester City’s owners.

The Guardian’s policy editor Kiran Stacey discusses the controversy after returning from a trade trip to India with the business secretary, Jonathan Reynolds, and the new Greater Manchester mayor, Bev Craig.

On that trip Stacey discovered that a representative of the football club was also present.

Culture Secretary considering wading into Sky's ITV merger

Lisa Nandy says she may intervene in Sky’s £1.6bn deal to buy ITV’s media and entertainment division on grounds of there being a public interest to keep a diversity of news and media outlets in the UK.

Ms Nandy said she may consider a more concrete intervention over concerns that Sky’s takeover would limit competition and narrow the range of views and programming in British media.

She’d be proposing new legislation if she took such action:

“Having considered the anticipated merger, I am of the view that there are reasonable grounds to believe that it might affect availability of a wide range of high-quality and varied programming on the on-demand platforms that are now widely used by UK audiences.

“Consequently, if I decide to intervene on the basis of this new public interest consideration, I will bring forward legislation which amends section 58 of the Act to extend the application of the public interest consideration relating to the availability of a wide range of broadcasting to on-demand programmes.”

I thought it worth highlighting some of the powerful messages we’re hearing from Northern Ireland today in the sentencing of former DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson, who’s been jailed to 15 years for the sexual abuse crimes he committed against two women when they were children.

Donaldson as leader of the Democratic Unionist Party from 2019 to 2024 was one of the most powerful politicians in Northern Ireland; he had risen to the heights of public office.

Throughout his trial he consistently denied the offences. Judge Paul Ramsey said there had not been “one word of regret, apology or shame from this man to at least provide his victims with some crumb of comfort”.

“It is only through the courage, resourcefulness, and determination of two young women that you’ve been brought to justice in respect of the crimes you committed against them when they were children.”

His wife Eleanor Donaldson, 60, was also found to have aided and abetted his crimes on a trial of the facts.

The victims have issued statements through the police. Complainant A described how her childhood had been stolen from her.

“For years I carried shame, anger and guilt, and questioned whether I was worth protecting or worthy of being loved. I learnt to survive by shutting away my emotions, trusting no one and expecting people to hurt me.

She said the Donaldsons “do not control me now”.

“They forever changed me, but they will not take my future. The cycle is being broken and it ends with me,” she added.

Complainant B said:

“What happened took away my ability to trust people and, in all honesty, I don’t think I really know what trust or love truly is. Nothing can ever change what was done to me. I wish it could.”

Catherine Kierans, from Northern Ireland’s prosecution service said the case showed sexual abuse “can be hidden behind a facade of respectability”.

“It also shows that no individual, irrespective of their position, status or public reputation, is beyond the reach of the law.”

The DUP also issued a party statement, saying their first thoughts were with the victims.

“Regardless of status or position every individual must be held accountable for their actions.

“He [Donaldson] deserves every day of the lengthy prison sentence he has to serve following the guilty verdict for preying on innocent child victims.”

Farage defends Reform vetting after candidates caught on camera making racist, violent comments

Nigel Farage has claimed that “the establishment” wants Reform UK “out of the picture” as he made his first public comments since the party was embroiled in a new crisis after a number of its councillors and election candidates were caught on film making graphic threats of extreme violence.

Speaking on the day after detail of an undercover ITV News investigation were broadcast, Farage said:

“You cant vet for future comments. You can look at someone’s CV, you can look at someone’s social media. I can’t tell you want they say, I cant predict what they’re going to say after a drink, when they have been provoked by somebody, or egged on to say something.”

“You can’t vet for future comments. I promise you there are 20,000 councillors across this country, many of them would have all sorts of opinions but you will never see the focus on those parties, only ever on us, and we know that, the establishment wants us out of the picture.”

Amnesty UK’s refugee and migrant rights director Steve Valdez-Symonds has issued these comments on Mahmoud’s visa threat.

“Rather than threatening to impose a ban on the few Eritreans who might ever be granted a visa and be permitted to depart from that country, the Home Secretary needs to address the shocking fall in asylum grants under this Government that has got even worse on her watch.

“Eritrea’s appalling human rights record includes arbitrarily detaining people forced to return, and indefinite and forced conscription in circumstances that in some cases amounts to slavery.

“Politicians are once again failing us all and putting lives at risk by simply refusing to manage this country’s asylum responsibilities fairly and efficiently. That is why our asylum system is in such a mess and contributes to a toxic environment where some people are so easily stirred to anger, hate and even violence against refugees who are fleeing war or persecution.”

Home Office data shows just 77 work visas were issued to Eritrean nationals in the year to June, making up 0.03% of the total of 234,841. Eritreans accounted for an even smaller proportion of study visas issued in the same period, at 0.01% (33 out of a total of 385,974).

Diplomats had been trying to hash out a solution behind the scenes for months; Mahmood has now gone public with her ultimatum:

“My message to the Eritrean government is simple: take back your nationals or face a complete ban on your citizens entering the UK.”

Restrictions have already kicked. From today, Eritrea’s diplomats are facing limits on how far they can travel outside of London without seeking foreign office permissions. And fast-track visa processing has been halted.

Andy Burnham has “apologised” and corrected the record after saying an “individual” was “responsible for the murder” of Ann Widdecombe, PA reports.

The PM was accused of a “breach of the presumption of innocence” by the Tories after his comment during Prime Minister’s Questions.

While No 10 declined to comment on Wednesday evening, Burnham has now corrected Hansard, the official record of government.

A Downing Street spokesperson said:

A correction has been issued to Hansard, and that will be published in due course.

Asked if the PM understood the code, they said:

The fact that we have issued an update speaks for itself.

Burnham referred in the chamber to the “individual responsible for the murder” of Widdecombe – a former Conservative minister and Reform UK’s justice spokeswoman – despite the legal process still being in its early stages.

Chancellor promises 'breathing space' for consumers in budget

John Healey has promised to use his first budget in a fortnight’s time to offer consumers and businesses a “breathing space” while sticking to Labour’s fiscal rules.

Speaking to journalists in Bangkok, where he has been attending the Monetary Fund (IMF) annual meetings, the chancellor said he was conscious of rising costs.

I want the budget to be a budget that gives Britain a bit of breathing space – but also reinforces the strength of our fiscal plans and the strength of our resilience and our economy for the future.

The government has already cut VAT on electricity bills, but Healey is expected to announce a further package of energy support at his 28 October tax and spending statement, before what is expected to be a sharp rise in the energy price cap in January.

He said:

The prime minister’s talked about recognising the cost of business, not just the cost of living.

Healey also reiterated his insistence that he will be sticking to the spending plans set out by his predecessor, Rachel Reeves, at last year’s spending review – and cabinet colleagues will have to find any additional resources within their existing budgets.

When the second half of a spending review is in place, there are pressures on departments, and colleagues are doing a good job of managing with what they’ve got.

You have to reprioritise if you want to do fresh things.

As we’ve been reporting, former DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson has been sentenced to a total of 15 years for sexual offences against two women who were children when he abused them three decades ago.

You can read our full report from my colleague, Ireland correspondent Rory Carroll, here:

Britain’s AI Security Institute is “no longer enough” to keep the country safe and the government should bring forward statutory AI protections, the chairman of the Business, Innovation, Science and Trade Committee has warned.

Liam Byrne, the Labour former minister, said the Cyber Resilience Bill could be used to bring the statutory protections into law.

It is currently making its way through Parliament, having passed its initial stages in the House of Commons earlier this year.

Speaking in the Commons today, Byrne said:

We are blessed to have the AI Security Institute in this country, but it’s no longer enough.

So, will ministers confirm that we will have Government amendments at report stage of the Cyber Resilience Bill to ensure that we have statutory AI protections to keep this country safe?

AI minister Kanishka Narayan said he would work with MPs across the House “on ideas for the Cyber Security and Resilience Bill, looking in particular at protections on AI security”.

Will the UK PM overshadow the SNP’s conference?

The Scottish Party’s conference kicks off today, and as my colleagues Patrick Greenfield and Eve Livingston write, this year even Andy Burnham has been invited

But by the time John Swinney stands up to address members on Saturday afternoon in Aberdeen to reinvigorate the case for a second independence referendum, his party may regret giving the UK prime minister so much prominence in the conference buildup.

“I quote that not to seek sympathy,” Burnham said, holding back tears. “Nor to criticise John Swinney. I relay it because I want you to know how it made me feel. Utterly determined to prove him wrong.”

Beyond ruling out a second independence referendum, recent British prime ministers have often paid little attention to Scottish internal affairs. Burnham has already said there is “no clear consensus” for another vote. But unlike his predecessors, he has decided to take on the SNP by loudly make the case for the union on Scottish soil.

Burnham presents a new challenge for the SNP as they seek to re-energise the case for Scottish independence. Swinney has said he wants a new vote before 2031. The separatists have grown used to facing off against rightwing, pro-Brexit governments in London during two decades in power in Holyrood, making it easier to argue that Scotland’s interests have been dismissed. Burnham’s devolution agenda, openness to exploring a return to the European Union and £2 bus fares are harder to confront.

Streeting at the Pentagon today as US-Ukraine tensions escalate

Defence secretary Wes Streeting is in Washington DC to meet US counterpart Pete Hegseth at a sensitive time when relations between the two normally close allies are strained by tensions over Ukraine, Iran and the Middle East.

The meeting is due to take place at lunchtime in the Pentagon a day after Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited London and said he felt betrayed by the US decision to throttle military access to the Starlink satellite internet system.

The UK finds itself in the middle of the deepening US-Ukraine dispute, and on Wednesday prime minister Andy Burnham met Zelenskyy and promised that he would engage in “laying the ground” for a reconciliation with US president Donald Trump.

At the same time, the UK faces questions about its ability to safeguard US military bases in Britain to the satisfaction of Hegseth, more than one of which has been targeted by Iran, leading to the recent withdrawal of 12 B-1 bombers from Fairford.

The US is also weighing up whether it wants to help Saudi Arabia in the fast developing conflict with Yemen’s Houthis at a time when it is trying to step away from a fresh outbreak of fighting with Iran before midterm elections next month.

That presents the UK with a difficult choice, because while the UK has largely kept out of the Iran war, it has acted as a junior partner with the US in joint in a series of air strikes on the Houthis during 2025 and early 2025.

Labour recognises that engaging in fresh bombing in the Middle East could be a difficult sell to the British public when Trump’s war in Iran is being blamed for cost of living pressures and increased energy prices at home.

Prior to meeting Hegseth, Streeting will also appear at the CSIS thinktank, at a session entitled “the future of UK-US defence cooperation”.

Prior to his flight to the US, Streeting sidestepped the tricky geopolitical issues and emphasised that he hoped that in future “Britain and America can lead the next generation of defence innovation”.

Former DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson jailed for 15 years on child sex abuse crimes

Jeffrey Donaldson, the former leader of the Democratic Unionist party (DUP) in Northern Ireland, has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for historical sexual offences against two women when they were children.
My colleague Taz Ali has live coverage of the sentencing here:

Donaldon led the DUP from 2021 until 2024.

“There has not been, and doubtless will not be, one word of regret, apology or shame from this man to at least provide his victims with some crumb of comfort,” he said.

He added Donaldson had experienced a “catastrophic descent into disgrace”.