UK politics live: Reeves dismisses Lammy’s Trump ‘Neo-Nazi’ jibe as Farage’s mediation offer snubbed by Labour

Sir Keir Starmer has been warned against rolling out the red carpet for Donald Trump in the UK, as the prime minister attempts to build bridges with the president-elect.

Matt Wrack, general secretary of the Fire Brigades Union (FBU), told The Independent such a move would be “obscene”, saying Trump’s election is “disastrous for trade unions and the labour movement globally”.

“Trump is a far-right nationalist demagogue who has launched a racist and misogynistic ‘hate-fest’ in the US,” he added.

Read the full story by Millie Cooke and David Maddox here:

Latest figures show the overall absence rate for the autumn and spring terms in schools in England was 7 per cent.

Speaking to hundreds of academy trust leaders today, education secretary Bridget Phillipson said she would not accept poor attendance levels caused by leadership practices.

Addressing 1,500 school and academy trust leaders at the Confederation of Schools Trust conference, Ms Phillipson said: “The absence epidemic is the canary in the coal mine for belonging in our country and the way we tackle this, the way we rip out the roots of this generational challenge, is to rebuild belonging through partnership and responsibility.

“Parents have a responsibility to send their children to school, but schools and trusts must create welcoming, engaging and inclusive spaces for pupils.

“Our best schools and trusts do this, but we know that there is huge variation in attendance levels.

“Sometimes that reflects different intakes and resources, but sometimes it’s difference in performance, whether leadership, practices or approach, and that we won’t accept.”

Now the political story today which will have raised a few eyebrows.

HS2 Ltd has confirmed it is spending more than £100m building a “shed” for bats despite there being “no evidence” that high-speed trains interfere with the protected species.

“We call it a shed. This shed, you’re not going to believe this, cost more than £100 million to protect the bats in this wood”, Sir Jon Thompson, chairman of the government-owned company told a rail industry conference today.

Full story from Millie Cooke here:

Home secretary Yvette Cooper has now also commented on the deals expected to be announced today by Sir Keir Starmer with Western Balkan states to tackle criminal gangs smuggling migrants.

The agreements with Serbia, North Macedonia and Kosovo will boost intelligence sharing, expertise and co-operation, Sir Keir said.

The prime minister made it one of his pledges before the election to tackle the smuggling gangs as concerns grow on the number of Channel crossings.

Ms Cooper said: “Our work with our partners in the Western Balkans is absolutely key to dismantling the criminal networks that orchestrate the exploitation of vulnerable people for financial gain.

“Working more closely with Serbia, North Macedonia and Kosovo, we will share information and intelligence, and work across borders to map out what is happening and where, to break the business models of these unscrupulous gangs at source.

“Through our intensified work, criminals will soon realise they have nowhere to hide.”

As earlier reported, prime minister Sir Keir Starmer is expected to sign new agreements to intercept criminal gangs smuggling migrants through the Western Balkans when he meets EU leaders today.

It’s all part of efforts to bring down small boat crossings - but comes as it was revealed more than 3,000 migrants crossed the Channel between October 24 and November 6, the busiest fortnight for crossings this year.

At the European Political Community summit in Budapest, Sir Keir is expected to urge European partners to take action to reduce deaths in the Channel during small boat crossings and tell them that lawful, international co-operation will be key to efforts.

The deals he will announce will boost intelligence sharing, expertise and co-operation with Serbia, North Macedonia and Kosovo.

The Western Balkans is a key route used by migrants who end up in the EU or UK illegally. Almost 100,000 migrants travelled by that route last year.

Last night, Sir Keir said: “We need to go further and faster, alongside our international partners, and take the fight directly to the heart of these vile people smuggling networks.”

Earlier today we shared how the UK had announced a wave of new sanctiosn against Russia, with suppliers helping Russia’s military production in sub-Saharan Africa targeted.

Foreign secretary David Lammy said the sanctions “build on the UK’s mission to combat Russian malign activity globally”.

Now we’re seeing pictures of prime minister Sir Keir Starmer talking to Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelensky in Budapest during the meeting of the European Political Community.

The body was set up in the wake of the invasion of Ukraine.

A week after she unveiled plans to upgrade transport links in the northern England in her Budget, chancellor Rachel Reeves is today in Manchester.

Last week’s announcement will see the Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU) between York, Leeds, Huddersfield and Manchester was secured.

Ms Reeves said the A57 will also receive a “long awaited upgrade”.

She was joined by transport secretary Louise Haigh and mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, during her visit.

She said: “Securing the delivery of these two important schemes brings our key Northern economic centres closer together.”

More than 3,000 migrants arrived in the UK in the busiest fortnight of Channel crossings so far this year.

A total of 3,197 people made the journey between October 24 and November 6, Home Office figures show.

This is the busiest 14-day period of crossings for the year so far, according to analysis by the PA news agency.

It comes as Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is set to sign new agreements to intercept criminal gangs smuggling migrants through the Western Balkans as part of efforts to bring down small boat crossings.

Sir Keir will announce the deals to boost intelligence sharing, expertise and co-operation with Serbia, North Macedonia and Kosovo at a meeting of the European Political Community in Budapest, Hungary, on Thursday.

He is expected to urge European partners to take action to reduce deaths in the Channel during small boat crossings and tell them that lawful, international co-operation will be key to efforts.

MP Mike Amesbury has issued a statement after he was charged with common assault.

The Runcorn and Helsby MP, who was suspended from Labour after the footage circulated last month, will appear before magistrates at a later date.

Mr Amesbury said: “I have today been summonsed to court to face a charge of common assault following an incident in Frodsham last month, which was deeply regrettable.

“I am continuing to cooperate with police and given this is an ongoing case I cannot comment further.”

In the wake of MP Mike Amesbury being charged with assault, we’ve now received a statement from the Crown Prosection Service.

Head of the service’s special crime division, Rosemary Ainslie, said: “Following a review of the evidence provided by Cheshire Police, we have authorised a charge of common assault against Mike Amesbury MP, 55.

“The charge follows an alleged assault in Frodsham, Cheshire, on Saturday, October 26 2024.

“The Crown Prosecution Service reminds all concerned that criminal proceedings against the defendant are active and that he has the right to a fair trial.

“It is extremely important that there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings.”