Scotland's first minister John Swinney has accepted an invitation to have dinner with Donald Trump in Aberdeenshire tonight, Sky News understands.
The meal will take place ahead of separate, widely publicised one-on-one talks between the pair tomorrow.
More: news.sky.com/story/politi...
The UK government will recognise a Palestinian state "in this parliament", Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds has told Sky News.
"But don't forget, we can only do this once. If we do it in a way which is tokenistic, doesn't produce the end to this conflict, where do we go to next?"
More below ⬇️
Apologies for my absence from this place. Hard to balance all the different platforms these days, but I’ve decided I want to participate on Bluesky.
So for news on UK politics, the Middle East, the US, and more, please do follow and share.
And get in touch with stories / goss 😉
Essex Police say claims by Nigel Farage that officers bussed in counter-demonstrators to migrant hotel protest are 'categorically wrong'
🚨 NEW: Reform UK is just one point off Labour in a new Sky News/The Times/YouGov poll.
The Tories have tumbled to third.
(Comparison with GE24)
🔴Labour 26% (35%)
🟤Reform UK 25% (15%)
🔵Conservatives 22% (24%)
🟡Lib Dem 14% (13%)
🟢Greens 8% (7%)
More: news.sky.com/story/politi...
Foreign Sec David Lammy is in Israel, and has met with his counterpart, Gideon Sa’ar.
Sa’ar said they “discussed a wide range of issues, including Syria, Lebanon and the Iranian threat”.
On Iran - Middle East minister Hamish Falconer said today they will have “more to say in the coming weeks”.
Wes Streeting: “Without Rachel Reeves's leadership, we wouldn't have won the last general election.
“She built Labour's economic credibility out of the ashes they were left in after the Corbyn leadership.”
A strident defence of the chancellor from a top minister👇
news.sky.com/story/rachel...
I don’t know what the solution is here. But all sides need to consider whether this manner of conducting business is in the best interests of our country, its people, and of our politics in this increasingly polarised world.
This sort of politicking happens under all govts - Labour did the same things when in opposition.
But is it right that seemingly separate, crucially important issues are tied together, and the opposition can then say govt MPs opposed something they might actually want?
If they’d voted for the amendment, it would not only have not mandated an inquiry - it would have killed many of the broader measures they may well believe in.
Voting against would have meant losing the whip, with no guarantee of an inquiry.
There is a very valid debate to be had on that bill and the measures it contains, particularly around schools (which the Tories also object to).
But the amendment put Labour MPs between a rock and a hard place.
For clarity, the amendment called for (did not mandate by law) a national inquiry into the grooming gang scandal.
Simultaneously, it rejected the govt’s Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill - legislation reforming education and reforming protections for vulnerable children.
Tonight’s vote in parliament lays bare a key issue in our political system.
While some Labour MPs may want a national inquiry into the unimaginable scandal of grooming gangs across our country, voting for the Tory amendment would have meant a much broader bill was rejected.
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Starmer: "I think we all had a smile on Sunday when [Mr Farage] said how cool it was to have the support of Musk, only for Musk to say he should be removed just a few hours later."
Farage, Tice, and Anderson:
NEW: Safeguarding minister Jess Phillips has told Sky's @bethrigby.bsky.social that "nothing is off the table" when dealing with the grooming gangs scandal - including a new national inquiry if victims want one.
Story: news.sky.com/story/jess-p...
BREAKING: Controversial broadcaster Piers Morgan to leave Rupert Murdoch’s News UK.
Sky's Mark Kleinman reports that he will focus on expanding his Uncensored YouTube channel in the US and other international markets.
The Tories' bid to force a national grooming gang inquiry won't result in a probe.
If Labour MPs were to vote for the reasoned amendment, it would kill the govt's flagship Children's Wellbeing Bill, and not force a national inquiry.
From Sky's Tim Baker 👇
news.sky.com/story/the-to...
Intriguing question in the Lords this afternoon re Elon Musk...
"Baroness Chakrabarti to ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to restrict the impact of foreign-owned social media companies upon UK democratic politics and public order."
NEW: As Parliament kicks back into gear after Christmas, Kim Leadbeater’s assisted dying bill now enters a crucial stage of scrutiny.
Today she’s announcing that the bill committee will hear three days of oral evidence on 28, 29, 30th Jan - that’s an extra day added to hear from expert witnesses.
“When those politicians sat in government for 14 long years tweeting, talking, but not doing anything about Now, so desperate for attention that they're amplifying what the far right is saying. So that's what I say about Jess Phillips.”
END
“But what I won't tolerate is this discussion and debate based on lies without calling it out. What I won't tolerate is politicians jumping on the bandwagon simply to get attention.
“Not on those who are so desperate for attention that they're prepared to debase themselves and their country. So this government will get on with the job of protecting victims, including child sexual abuse, mandatory reporting, accelerating the processes.
“But when the poison of the far right leads to serious threats to Jess Phillips and others, then in my book a line has been crossed.
“I enjoy the cut and thrust of politics, the robust debate that we must have. But that's got to be based on facts and truth, not on lies.
“We've seen this playbook many times, Whipping up of intimidation and threats of violence, hoping that the media will amplify it.
“Now Jess Phillips does not need me or anybody else to speak on her behalf.
“Jess Phillips has done 1,000x more than they've even dreamt about, when it comes to protecting victims of sexual abuse, throughout her entire career.
“And so just as I took on the criminal justice system & the institutions when I was chief prosecutor, I'm prepared to call out this for what it is.
“These are people who are trying to get some kind of vicarious thrill from street violence that people like Tommy Robinson promote.
“And those attacking Jess Phillips, who I'm proud to call a colleague and a friend, are not protecting victims.
“They're supporting a man who went to prison for nearly collapsing a grooming case, a gang grooming case. These are people who are trying to get some kind of vicarious thrill from street violence that people like Tommy Robinson promote.
“Those that are spreading lies and misinformation as far and as wide as possible, they're not interested in victims. They're interested in themselves. Those who were cheerleading Tommy Robinson aren't interested in justice.
