UK politics live: Starmer responds to Manchester police violence as Robert Jenrick enters Tory leadership race

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Sir Keir Starmer has said he understands public concerns after footage of police officer emerged appearing to show a police officer kicking a man in the head at Manchester Airport.

The prime minister said home secretary Yvette Cooper has met with Andy Burnham, mayor of Greater Manchester, to discuss the harrowing scene that prompted the suspension of one police officer.

It came after Sir Keir said the “hard graft of rebuilding this country has truly started” as he accused the previous Tory government of leaving a “rot of short-sightedness and self-service” for Labour to clear up.

Giving a speech in Runcorn alongside Ed Milliband, the prime minister launched the government’s plan for a state-owned energy firm to  “drive down bills”.

The Conservative party has started a three-month leadership contest to replace Rishi Sunak after the general election defeat.

Robert Jenrick and Tom Tugendhat were the latest to submit their papers to challenge James Cleverly to become the new leader of the opposition. 

Other former cabinet ministers expected to announce bids include Kemi Badenoch, Priti Patel, Mel Stride and Suella Braverman.

Key Points

• Starmer responds to GMP violence in Manchester Airportr
• Tugendhat, Jenrick and Cleverly locked in Tory leadership battle
• MPs vote in favor of prisoners early release scheme
• Starmer: People ‘paying price’ for Tories’ negligence on energy
• Government majority ‘gone by Easter’ if rebellion continues

Pictured: David Lammy with Narendra Modi during UK-India Technology Security Initiative in New Delhi

Treasury ‘confident’ enough coins available without ordering more this year

The Treasury has denied that 1p and 2p coins are to be scrapped after none were ordered from the Royal Mint this year.

Reports had suggested the coins could be reaching the end of their life amid the continuing decline in cash use.

A Treasury spokesman denied it is the end of the road for the smallest denominations and said the lack of orders is down to there being plenty of coins in circulation.

“We are not scrapping 1p or 2p coins,” the spokesman said. “We are confident there are enough coins in the system without the need to order more this year.”

The number of coins issued into circulation reflects demand levels from UK banks and post offices.

The Royal Mint responds by issuing coins on behalf of the Treasury, which ultimately decides how many new coins are issued into circulation.

The Royal Mint said in a statement: “The Royal Mint’s core purpose is to make UK coins, and we continue to work closely with the Treasury to meet demand from UK cash centres.”

No 1p coins were minted in 2018 or 2019 and no 2p coins were minted in 2018, 2019, 2020 or 2022, according to figures on the Royal Mint’s website.

Car production down 7.6% in first half of year as manufacturers switch to EVs

UK car production fell by 7.6% in the first six months of the year, new figures suggest.

Industry body the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), which released the data, said the decline was “expected” due to car makers overhauling lines to make electrified models.

Factories turned out 416,074 new cars between January and June, 34,094 fewer than in the same period in 2023.

The decline in electric car production matched the overall trend, at 7.6%.

Just over 106,157 cars were built for the UK, an increase of 17.7% year-on-year, but there was a 13.9% decline in production for overseas buyers to 309,917 units.

The European Union continued to take the majority of car exports (55.4%).

The US, China, Turkey and Australia made up the rest of the top five export locations, accounting for a combined 29.4% of all overseas orders.

Japan, Canada, South Korea, the United Arab Emirates and Switzerland completed the top 10.

The latest independent outlook shows total production this year is expected to reach around 910,000 units, which would be a decline of 9.3% compared with 2023.

Interfaith dialogue in UK ‘has almost collapsed’ since Gaza conflict, says Welby

Interfaith dialogue in the UK has “almost collapsed” since the eruption of the Gaza conflict last year, the Archbishop of Canterbury has said.

Justin Welby told the House of Lords on Thursday that conflicts overseas had a “profound impact” on community cohesion on home soil.

The war, triggered by Hamas’ terror attack on Israel on October 7, has led to the deaths of tens of thousands of people in Gaza, and sparked deep divisions in Britain.

During the upper chamber’s debate on the King’s Speech, the archbishop said: “Issues elsewhere in the world do not confine themselves to affecting us in our international policy alone. We are recognised by the United Nations as the most diverse nation on Earth.

“That means every single overseas conflict or disaster has a diaspora community here. To build a cohesive society here, domestic and foreign policy must work hand-in-glove.

“That is seen with Israel and Gaza. Conflict overseas has a profound impact on our own society and our own domestic policies, because of the multicultural nature of our communities.

“Interfaith dialogue in this country has almost collapsed since October 7 last year and tensions are high and that is entirely as a result of overseas matters.”

His comments come after the archbishop has faced criticism for not speaking out more against Israel, with Palestinian Anglicans saying he was “relegating” their plight.

Who will be the next Conservative leader? The Tory frontrunners

The Conservatives have kicked off a leadership contest after Rishi Sunakled the party to its worst election defeat in history.

A string of senior figures have thrown their hats in the ring to succeed the former PM and lead the party through the next five years in opposition.

Possible candidates must win the support of 10 Conservative MPs before the Monday deadline in order to make it onto the ballot paper.

With the shortlist to be whittled down gradually until a final four are paraded in front of the party faithful at October’s Tory conference, The Independent looks at the runners and riders to take the reins from Mr Sunak.

Who will be the next Tory leader? The Tory frontrunners from Patel to Braverman

After a catastrophic defeat the party has kicked off its own election - to pick Rishi Sunak’s successor

School children unwittingly smoking spice-spiked vapes, study finds

School children in England may be unwittingly smoking vapes spiked with the synthetic street drug spice, according to new research.

Professor Chris Pudney, from the University of Bath, tested 596 vapes confiscated from schools in England and found 16.6% contained spice, which has a range of dangerous side effects including cardiac arrest.

It is believed the substance is being substituted into vapes which are sold as containing cannabis oil, as it is cheaper.

In total, 38 schools from across London, the West Midlands, Greater Manchester and South Yorkshire took part in the research.

Results from a device than instantly detects synthetic drugs found spice was present in vapes from 28, or 74%, of these schools.

The device also revealed 1.17% of the vapes tested contained THC, the psychoactive component of cannabis.

Prof Pudney said: “Teenagers think they are purchasing vapes or vape fluid containing THC or nicotine when, in fact, they are laced with spice.

“We know children can have cardiac arrests when they smoke spice, and I believe some have come quite close to death.

“Headteachers are telling me pupils are collapsing in the halls and ending up with long stays in intensive care.”

Starmer bids to reset Britain on world stage with trade, defence deals

Post-Brexit ties with Europe take a leap forward with defence pact between Britain and Germany, as Lammy lands in India for trade negotiations.

Our political editor David Maddox has the full story:

Starmer bids to reset Britain on world stage with trade, defence deals

Post-Brexit ties with Europe take a leap forward with defence pact between Britain and Germany, as Lammy lands in India for trade negotiations

Cooper urges GMP to launch ‘fair’ investigation into Manchester police violence

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has urged Greater Manchester Police to launch a “fair and independent” investigation into police violence.

It comes as footage emerged of a police officer appears to kick a man in Manchester Airport.

Following a meeting with Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, Ms Cooper said in statement: “This morning I have spoken to Greater Manchester Police and the Mayor of Greater Manchester about the urgent steps they are taking in response to the incident at Manchester Airport on Tuesday evening, and the video that circulated online yesterday.

“I share the deep concern surrounding the video and understand the widespread distress it will have caused. I welcome the initiation of an independent investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct following a referral from Greater Manchester Police. It is extremely important that the IOPC are able to begin the investigation swiftly and conduct it thoroughly, examining all of the evidence, with clear and transparent ways for all those affected to be able to raise their concerns with the IOPC.

“I welcome the engagement by the Mayor of Greater Manchester with local communities. It is essential that the police have the trust of communities and the public rightly expect high standards from those in charge of keeping us safe.

“I am continuing to receive updates from Greater Manchester Police. It is vital that we now allow this investigation to proceed fairly and independently.”

Reform criticise ‘unfair’ committees in call for more representation

MPs from smaller parties including the SNP and Reform UK have criticised “unfair” committee selection and called for greater representation.

On Thursday the Government proposed a motion to establish a modernisation committee that would consider reforms to House of Commons procedures, standards, and working practices.

The party balance of committee membership is intended to reflect the balance of seats in the House, and membership elections are held within each party.

SNP MP Kirsty Blackman proposed an amendment to the motion that would require one member from each party to be represented on the 14 person committee, that went unselected by the Speaker.

Reform UK MP Lee Anderson (Ashfield) intervened to say: “This for me seems a little bit unfair. We have a political party represented in this House that got over four million votes at the last election and we will have no representation whatsoever on the committees.

“Yet we’ve got a party (the Liberal Democrats), they’ve got three and a half million votes that will have plenty of representation on the committees, does the Leader think that’s fair?”

The Reform UK deputy leader Richard Tice kept pressure on Ms Powell, telling her: “(Mr Anderson) has just made a very good case and asked you a specific question. Is it fair?

“And by your lack of reply, you I think implicitly agree. It’s not fair.

“And you have it in your power to change this in the matter of fairness and listening to smaller parties and I think constituents all over the country, if you don’t agree with that, will find that absolutely astonishing.”

Ian Lavery claims MPs make ‘an absolute fortune’ while constituents are on benefits

Labour MP Ian Lavery said MPs make “an absolute fortune” while their constituents are on benefits and using food banks.

Speaking in the Commons, the MP for Blyth and Ashington said: “I never thought in a million years when I was working at the pit that I would be on a salary of £91,346, it’s a fortune you know, it’s an absolute fortune, and you’ve got to work for it, you’ve got to work for your constituents.

“That £91,346, when you look at the average UK salary, which is £35,828, in the North East where I live it’s under £30,000 – we’re paid fortunes, man, we’re nearly millionaires, I know that’s not true, however I make a point.”

Mr Lavery added: “Sky News reported that MPs earned £17 million from second incomes last year, that’s a lot of money, mind, a lot of money when a lot of people who we represent are actually using food banks, are actually claiming benefits in work, and they’re suffering greatly as a consequence of the cost-of-living crisis caused by 14 years of disruption of the Conservative government.”

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