Rayner ditches ‘levelling up’ slogan as Braverman takes swipe at LGBT+ community – live

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The Labour government has ditched the phrase “levelling up” as Sir Keir Starmer met with England’s metro mayors.

Secretary of state Angela Rayner said Labour will govern in the nation’s interest, without gimmicks and slogans.

“A government of public service means fixing the fundamentals to deliver for the British people,” she said.

Senior Tories Suella Braverman, Jacob Rees-Mogg and Lord Frost are today at a Popular Conservatism, “PopCon”, post-election event, with the Tory’s election defeat at the top of the agenda.

Also among the speakers was historian David Starkey, who said it was “deranged” that a Conservative prime minister, David Cameron, cited enabling same-sex marriage as his greatest achievement.

Ahead of today’s event, Ms Braverman sparked a backlash as she criticised recent Tory governments’ records on LGBT+ issues, describing government buildings flying rainbow flags as “occupied territory”.

Former PM Tony Blair today painted a gloomy picture of the UK’s finances as he delivered a speech at the Tony Blair Institute’s Future of Britain conference.

He warned that, unless the country improves growth and productivity, and drives value and efficiency through public spending, it will become “much poorer”.

Key Points

• ‘We must not assume that we just come back automatically’ - Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg
• ‘Devastating’ election result - Suella Braverman
• Historian and TV presenter David Starkey takes to the stage
• CCHQ has become more a command and control centre - PopCon chief
• Our failure has been we have forgotten the lessons of Margaret Thatcher - David Starkey
• Braverman hits out at ‘liberal Conservatives’ after the party’s defeat at the general election

Keir Starmer and Rishi Sunak have had their first face to face conversation since the election

Keir Starmer and Rishi Sunak have had their first face to face conversation since the election, Kate Devlin reports.

They had a brief chat in the Commons chamber.

It happened as all 650 MPs came together for the first time since the election.

The first order of business is to elect a new Commons speaker.

Father of the House Sir Edward Leigh has led a small delegation of MPs to the House of Lords ahead of the election of the speaker.

Sir Lindsay Hoyle is expected to be re-elected as speaker before the process of swearing in MPs begins.

Live: New MPs sworn into House of Commons following general election

Watch live as new MPs are sworn into the House of Commons on Tuesday 9 July, following the general election.There will be 411 MPs representing Labour thanks ...

The Tories shadow cabinet line-up revealed:

The Conservatives have posted Rishi Sunak’s interim Shadow Cabinet line-up on X as the party officially takes the role of Opposition.

Watch live as new MPs sworn into House of Commons following general election

There will be 411 MPs representing Labour thanks to their landslide win, while the Conservatives form the opposition with 121 seats.

The Liberal Democrats take 72 seats in the Commons, with the SNP on nine, Reform UK on five and the Green Party on four.

Watch live as new MPs sworn into House of Commons following general election

Watch live as new MPs are sworn into the House of Commons on Tuesday 9 July, following the general election.

‘Levelling up’ to be axed from ministry name

Deputy prime minister Angela Rayner has confirmed the words “levelling up” are to be removed from the name of the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

It was renamed the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities by Boris Johnson’s government.

Writing on X, formerly Twitter, Ms Rayner said: “A Government of public service means fixing the fundamentals to deliver for the British people.

“No more gimmicks and slogans, but the hard yards of governing in the national interest.

“The department I lead will be the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.”

Housing minister Jim McMahon had earlier told broadcasters the slogan had been “Tippexed” out of the department’s name.

In pictures: Prime minister meets regional mayors

Who are the five new Reform MPs elected across the UK? Everything you need to know

Nigel Farage’s Reform UK party made a dramatic statement at the general election, winning more than four million votes and taking a significant bite out of support for the Tories.

Yet despite taking 14 per cent of the popular vote, the right-wing party returned with just five seats of the 650 represented in Westminster. That is because under the First Past the Post system, the party came second in 98 seats, many of which are now held by Labour.

Vowing to build a “mass movement” that can mount a generation election challenge in 2029, Mr Farage, who is now MP for Clacton, said: “We’re coming for Labour – be in no doubt about that. “This is just the first step of something that is going to stun all of you,” he added during his victory speech in the early hours of Friday morning.

Below we take a look at the five new Reform MPs, who attended Parliament for the first time on Tuesday:

Who are the six new Reform MPs elected across the UK? Everything you need to know

Nigel Farage’s Reform UK party made a dramatic statement at the general election, winning more than four million votes and taking a significant bite out of support for the Tories.

Andy Burnham: ‘Starmer keen to support growth in whole of England'

Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham has said Sir Keir Starmer is “showing his intent to get growth going in all parts of England”.

Mr Burnham told BBC Breakfast after a meeting with the new Prime Minister: “You had mayors representing more than half of the population of England and we’ve all said to the Prime Minister and the Deputy Prime Minister that we’re just ready now to deliver for them.”

Wes Streeting ‘optimistic’ ahead of pay talks with junior doctors

The Health Secretary has said he is “optimistic” ahead of talks with junior doctors aimed at ending their long-running dispute over pay.

Wes Streeting said the talks mark an “important reset moment” in relations between the Government and junior doctors in England.

Medics from the British Medical Association (BMA) are to meet Department of Health and Social Care officials on Tuesday afternoon to start discussions with a view to ending strikes which have been causing widespread disruption across the health service.

Speaking at the Tony Blair Institute’s Future of Britain Conference 2024, Mr Streeting said: “I’m seeing the junior doctors this afternoon, they are coming into the Department of Health. I know they’re coming in not just from my diary, but from the army of cameras and journalists currently stationed outside the department.”

Asked if he was optimistic about the talks, he said: “Optimistic? Yes.

“This is an important reset moment in the relationship between junior doctors and their Government.”

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