UK politics live: Starmer says only viable option in Middle East is two-state solution

Labour election guru Morgan McSweeney will take over as Sir Keir Starmer’s chief of staff after Sue Gray quit.

McSweeney is the creative intelligence behind Starmer’s success, first in winning the leadership of the Labour Party and then in winning a huge election victory in the country. It makes sense to have him at the top of the political side of No 10, writes Jabed Ahmed.

MPs are currently putting questions to work and pensions secretary Liz Kendall, who is being quizzed over Labour’s plan to cut winter fuel payments for pensioners.

Her statement will be followed by a statement from Sir Keir Starmer on the 7 October anniversary and the conflicts in the Middle East.

We will then hear from the foreign secretary David Lammy, who will be grilled over the recent Chagos Island deal with Mauritius.

The prime minister has toughened his defences against a right-wing press vendetta against him, writes John Rentoul:

Downing Street has insisted the deal to give up sovereignty over the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) was due to the “unsustainable” legal position and had no impact on other disputed territories including the Falkland Islands and Gibraltar.

The prime minister’s official spokesman would not be drawn on the cost to the UK taxpayer of the deal which will see Mauritius being given sovereignty over the islands, with a 99-year agreement to secure the strategically important UK-US military base on Diego Garcia.

The spokesman said: “The government inherited a situation where the long-term secure operation of the military base at Diego Garcia was under threat with contested sovereignty and legal challenges, including through various international courts and tribunals.

“You will be aware that the previous government initiated sovereignty negotiations in 2022 and conducted a number of rounds of negotiations. This government picked up those negotiations and has reached an agreement, which means that for the first time in over 50 years, the base will be undisputed, legally secure, with full Mauritian backing.”

Asked why the BIOT should not be seen as a precedent for other sovereignty disputes such as the Falklands and Gibraltar, the spokesman said: “It’s a unique situation based on its unique history and circumstances, and has no bearing on other overseas territories.”

The spokesman added: “British sovereignty of the Falkland Islands or Gibraltar is not up for negotiation.”

House prices increased by 0.3 per cent month-on-month in September, matching a rise seen in August, Halifax said.

Year-on-year price growth ran at 4.7 per cent, the strongest rate since November 2022.

The average house price was £293,399, just shy of a record high of £293,507 set in June 2022.

Sir Keir Starmer is under growing pressure as Labour heavyweights warned he has lost his grip on the political narrative, after he was forced to accept the resignation of his chief of staff over the weekend.

Sue Gray resigned from her position after weeks of reported tensions in Number 10.

Labour grandee Baroness Harriet Harman has said the turmoil that culminated in her resignation has been “uncomfortable” for the prime minister, warning that nobody wants to see political infighting on the front pages of newspapers.

Our political correspondent Millie Cooke has the full story below:

Downing Street has rejected suggestions that Sir Keir Starmer has a “woman problem” after he replaced his chief of staff Sue Gray with Morgan McSweeney.

The prime minister was accused by Rosie Duffield of “having a problem with women” after sensationally quitting the Labour Party over his “greed”.

Asked whether the Canterbury MP was right to have said the prime minister has a problem with women given the most senior woman behind the scenes had been stood aside with a man taking over her role, his spokesman said: “I wouldn’t accept that characterisation at all.”

On whether Sir Keir believed journalists were “scumbags” after a report in The Times suggested Ms Gray used the term to refer to some members of the press, the spokesman said: “I’m not going to get into unsourced briefings.”

Downing Street rejected suggestions that Sue Gray might clash with cabinet ministers for the devolved nations in her new role as envoy.

Asked whether there was a risk of Ms Gray’s new position clashing with those of the secretaries of state for Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, the prime minister’s official spokesman said: “No, no, not at all.

“They will work constructively and collaboratively within the existing set-up.”

It comes after top aides accused the former partygate investigator of alienating her colleagues during her time in Downing Street.