UK politics live: Boris Johnson claims he considered raid into Holland to recover ‘kidnapped’ Covid vaccines

Sir Keir Starmer has said he was prepared to be mocked over the “sausages” gaffe in his Labour conference speech.

The prime minister butchered a call for Hamas to release the hostages in Gaza, instead demanding “the return of the sausages” before swiftly correcting himself.

Asked about the mistake he told reporters: “I just mangled the beginning of the word.”

He added: “These things are there to give you all the opportunity to rib me.”

The blunder in his conference speech on Tuesday was swiftly picked up on social media.

The Conservatives posted on X: “Keir Starmer uses his first big speech as Prime Minister to call for the return of the sausages.”

UK leaders “shouldn’t pull our punches” if they disagree with the American president, Emily Thornberry has said after Sir Keir Starmer met with Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump.

Ms Thornberry, House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee chairwoman, told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “Donald Trump may be the president of the United States in a couple of months’ time so of course, it’s important to have meetings with him and to build a relationship with him.

“Whatever criticisms one may have of Donald Trump, the point is that the office of president is one that needs to be properly respected and the Americans are very close friends of ours.”

The Labour politician added: “I think that this is an initial meeting, so there needs to be a certain amount of relationship building and we take it from there.

“I do think that if there are things the American president does or says that we disagree with, then we shouldn’t pull our punches.”

My colleague Archie Mitchell reports:

The government will provide £5 million to UNICEF in Lebanon to support humanitarian response efforts and enable the charity to distribute supplies.

The package includes essential medical supplies, hygiene kits and fuel for water stations, to help thousands of displaced civilians across Lebanon, the government said.

Minister for the Middle East and North Africa Hamish Falconer said: “Today we are providing £5 million to UNICEF in Lebanon to support the urgent humanitarian response in Lebanon. The number of civilian casualties is unacceptable, and the UK is deeply concerned by the surge in numbers of displaced people.

“An immediate ceasefire is essential.”

Rachel Kyte, Professor of Practice in Climate Policy at the Blavatnik School of Government at the University of Oxford, has been appointed as the UK’s Special Representative for Climate.

She will support ministers to increase senior international diplomatic engagement on climate and clean energy, the government said.

The role, previously left vacant for over a year, has been re-appointed as part of the government’s “ambitions to restore the UK’s role as an international leader on the climate”.

Ms Kyte’s previous roles include Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General and CEO of Sustainable Energy for All and Vice President for Sustainable Development at the World Bank.

Foreign Secretary David Lammy said: “We cannot address the urgency of the climate and nature crisis without coordinated global action.

“This government is committed to boosting the UK’s climate leadership. Rachel Kyte will bring invaluable expertise and experience as we work together with partners to drive the energy transition, support those most vulnerable to the worst impacts of the climate crisis and meet the objectives of the Paris Agreement.”

Baroness Sayeeda Warsi has said the Conservatives have promoted “racism that poisoned the public discourse”, a day after she left the party.

ICYMI, former cabinet minister Baroness Warsi resigned the Conservative whip last night, saying the party had moved too far to the right from when she was in government.

Writing on X, she said: “Thank you to colleagues from across Parliament who have reached out with kind messages and solidarity.

Thank you also to the likes of James (Cleverly) and others who are providing me with an opportunity to revisit the last ten years of inaction, acquiescence, tolerance and promotion of racism that poisoned the public discourse leading to violence on our streets.

“Damaged our country and destroyed our party. I kept the receipts and look forward to publishing them,” she added.

The 2024 Conservative Party Conference will be a drastically different affair from last year’s gathering in Manchester, when Rishi Sunak’s government was in its dying days.

Back then, ministers announced a slew of eye-catching policies that would reshape the future of the country in a desperate last few roles of the dice - Alex Chalk promising to offshore prisoners, Jeremy Hunt planning to slash the number of civil servants and Rishi Sunak scrapping HS2.

This year, Mr Sunak is a lame duck Tory leader and all eyes will be far from the diminished former prime minister. Instead it will be a four-day battle for the future leadership of the party, with the four remaining contenders thrashing it out to try to win over Tory members.

James Cleverly, Kemi Badenoch, Robert Jenrick and Tom Tugendhat will be put to the test in a series of hustings and speeches, as well as taking part in intense lobbying and networking behind the scenes in Birmingham with MPs and the party rank and file.

On offer elsewhere will be former Tory MPs, ousted by the public in July’s general election, setting out where they think the party went wrong and what it needs to do next.

High profile names expected to appear are ex-PM Liz Truss, former business secretary Jacob Rees-Mogg and incoming Spectator Editor Michael Gove.

The Independent will be bringing the latest updates and analysis from the conference.

My colleague Albert Toth explains:

A Government spokesperson said: “We are committed to supporting pensioners, with millions set to see their state pension rise by £1,700 this parliament through our commitment to the triple lock.

“Given the dire state of the public finances we have inherited, it’s right we target support to those who need it most.

“Over a million pensioners will still receive the winter fuel payment, and our drive to boost pension credit take-up has already seen a 152% increase in claims.

“Many others will also benefit from the £150 warm home discount to help with energy bills over winter while our extension of the household support fund will help with the cost of food, heating and bills.”