Today's news
- Number 10 says Kneecap's apology does not go far enough
- Investigation into themmust happen 'free from political interference', says security minister|He says Glastonbury should 'think very carefully' about having the band perform
- The band says they are a victim of a 'smear campaign'
- Foreign sex offenders to lose refugee status - but Tories say it's 'too little, too late'|Home secretary says she is 'reviewing' how the ECHR is applied
- Government defends 'milkshake tax', saying it is facing a 'childhood obesity epidemic'
- Badenoch says she likes 'a sandwich that makes an effort' - like an egg McMuffin
- Live reporting by Ben Blochand (earlier)Will Charley
Tories won't be in opposition for 'decades' - but 'long road' back to power, Badenoch tells Sky News
Kemi Badenoch has told Sky News that she will not let the Tories be out of power for "decades" - but warned there is a "a long road ahead".
Speaking to our political editor Beth Rigbyas she was campaigning ahead of the local elections, the Tory leader said this will be "a challenging election" for them because the last time these seats were contested, the Tories were riding high in the polls.
"There will be a natural correction to that, and there's an anti-politics mood at the moment," she said, and added that her job is to "remind people that this is not an opinion poll", but deciding who will be in charge of crucial services in each area.
Beth put to Badenoch that her party could be overtaken by the Liberal Democrats locally, and she replied: "It's like a sailor complaining about the sea. We're in very choppy waters. It's a difficult time.
"There's no point in me focusing on what other parties are doing. I have to focus on what I can do with my party."
She went on to say that the party is in the process of "rebuilding" following the historically bad general election loss last July, and noted that the last periods of opposition were 14 years, 13 years, and 18 years.
"I've been a leader for six months. There's a long road ahead," she said.
"I'm not going to let it be decades. I want to do this in four years, but that's a really tough job."
The Tory leader insisted that her party elected her for that purpose, and that they are going to do it "the hard way, the long way, but the most reliable way, building the foundations, making sure that we're not just making announcements when we haven't got plans to back them up."
This interview is part of a series of election previews with all major parties invited.
Badenoch suggests UK net zero plans could lead to blackouts
The Tory leader has suggested that the power outages in Spain and Portugal were linked to a reliance on renewable energy, and that the UK's net zero plans could lead to blackouts.
Speaking to reporters, Kemi Badenoch: "Well, I've heard different theories about what’s happened.
"Some have said that it's cyberterrorism, but the more likely issue is the grid - that when you have an electricity supply that's reliant on renewables, you need a lot of battery storage.
"And quite often, what we're seeing is renewables running ahead of the storage facilities, which means that when you have surges one way or another, you end up with blackouts.
"And this is one of the reasons why I've been saying that the net zero plans we have are not thought through.
"That we're rushing ahead without having the right infrastructure in place and actually doing things that could end up bankrupting the country or creating blackouts."
Government rejects calls to recognise state of Palestine within months
Dame Emily Thornberry, who chairs the Foreign Affairs Committee, has called on the government to join France in recognising the state of Palestine alongside France, which is set to do so in June.
She told MPs that it would be "the next serious step" in the UK's efforts to bring about a two-state solution in the region.
But in response, Middle East minister Hamish Falconer said the government's position "remains the same".
"We do wish to recognise a Palestinian state, we wish to do so as a contribution to a two state solution and we will make a judgment about when the best moment is to try and make the fullest possible contribution," he told the Commons.
"Because as I said to the Palestinian prime minister this morning, our responsibility is for the reality of the situation on the ground, the practical viability of a Palestinian state.
"Of course there are other states that have taken a different position from the UK government and chosen to recognise a Palestinian state. That has not called it into existence.
"Our job in the British government is to make a practical contribution to a two state solution and that is how we intend to approach this issue."
Minister expresses 'steadfast support for Palestinian Authority' - and condemns Israeli settlements
Middle East minister Hamish Falconer has just given a statement in the House of Commons about the visit of the Palestinian Authority (PA) prime minister, Mohammad Mustafa, yesterday.
He told MPs that the visit "reflects the UK's steadfast support for the Palestinian Authority and the Palestinian people at this critical juncture in the occupied Palestinian territories".
The government "reaffirmed our unwavering commitment to advancing a two-state solution as the pathway to achieving just and lasting peace in the Middle East".
"We are clear that the Palestinian people have an inalienable right to self-determination, including to independent statehood," he declared.
Falconer went on to say that the PA is "the only legitimate governing entity in theoccupied Palestinian territories, and it is important that Gaza and the West Bank are reunified under their authority".
"The UK is clear - the PA must have a central role in the next phase in Gaza," he said. "There can be no role for Hamas in the future of Gaza."
He called on Hamas to "immediately release the hostages and relinquish control of Gaza".
The minister went on to say that the UK and PA signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to advance the UK-PA partnership, and also discussed the situation in the region.
"We discussed the gravity of the situation in Gaza, the West Bank, and east Jerusalem," he said. "We condemned the appalling suffering of civilians in Gaza, and agreed on the urgent need for a return to a ceasefire in Gaza, with the release of hostages and the unblocking of aid."
The UK expressed "alarm" at the tensions in West Bank, condemned "illegal" Israeli settlements, and called for an end to their expansion.
The PA is undertaking vast reforms, which the government fully supports, the minister said, and £101m is being provided to bolster their efforts.
In response, Tory shadow foreign secretary Dame Priti Patel said the MOU "fails to outline in any way how it will help to achieve a meaningful end to the conflict".
She questioned how the government can achieve its aim of having the PA running all Palestinian territories "without a strategy for the removal of the terrorist Hamas regime in Gaza".
Why is the Welsh parliament back in its old chamber?
By Tomos Evans, Wales reporter
The Senedd is back in its old chamber for today's first minister's questions.
There's only a year to go until the next Senedd election when, for the first time, 96 members will be elected to the Welsh parliament.
That's an increase of more than 50%, which means the Senedd chamber itself, where debates and votes take place, will have to be expanded.
While that work is being carried out, the chamber will be closed until March 2026.
So until then, members are back in their old stomping ground, Siambr Hywel – the original chamber which housed the Welsh Assembly between 1999 and 2006.
Since then, the space has been regularly used for educational visits and mock debates.
Elin Jones, the Senedd's Llywydd (presiding officer) said "things have changed quite a bit since we were last [in Siambr Hywel]".
She said the changes to the Senedd building would "future proof" the Welsh parliament, making it "fit for purpose for the next 100 years".
The Welsh government says an increase in members will mean more scrutiny of its decisions.
According to its own figures, the Senedd Reform Bill as a whole will cost up to £120m to implement over an eight-year period.
But the largest opposition group, the Welsh Conservatives, opposes the expansion – saying that the money should instead have been spent on more doctors and nurses in the Welsh NHS.
Government says Glastonbury should 'think very carefully' about having Kneecap perform
The urgent question on comments made byNorthern Irish hip-hop group Kneecap continues in the House of Commons, and a major point of concern for MPs is that they are due to perform at Glastonbury this year.
Conservative former minister Mark Francois had said it would be "unconscionable" for the trio to appear at the iconic festival, and said they "should surely be barred today".
Security minister Dan Jarvis replied: "It is not for government ministers to say who is going to appear at Glastonbury, it's for the organisers of the festival.
"But there is, as I have said, an ongoing live police investigation, so the government would urge the organisers at the Glastonbury Festival to think very carefully about who is invited to perform there later this year."
Shadow home secretary Chris Philp said the band were "attacking democracy itself" with alleged threats to "incite the murder of MPs", which he described as "evil".
Investigation into Kneecap must be allowed to happen 'free from political interference'
The government has said a police investigation looking into comments made by Northern Irish hip-hop trio must be allowed to happen "free from political interference".
Dan Jarvis, a Home Office minister, called the words members of Kneecap are alleged to have said "dangerous" and "irresponsible".
Responding to an urqent question on the comments made by the group, Jarvis told the Commons that "political intimidation and abuse have no place in our society".
He added that "the desire for immediate answers" is constrained by it being a live investigation.
He went on to tell the House that elected politicians of all parties and at all levels "must be able to perform their duties safely and without fear".
Jarvis said: "Those of us who attend this place are all too aware of the devastating consequences of violence against our colleagues and friends.
"Our politics is better when it is conducted respectfully and safely, and I hope and trust that that will have the support of members right across this House."
Francois' four questions on Kneecap:
Mark Francois, who requested the urgent question, responded to the ministerial statement with a series of questions for the home secretary.
The MP for Rayleigh and Wickford asked her how long the inquiry will last and said the video "plainly speaks for itself".
Francois also questioned which government minister approved the "absurd" decision to "surrender" to Kneecap, and not fight a legal challenge for more than £14,000 of public money.
The band originally had a request for money turned down by the then-business secretary Kemi Badenoch under the Conservative government.
This went to a legal challenge on the basis of discrimination, which the subsequent Labour government conceded, handing over the money to the group.
Third, Francois called for Kneecap to be barred from appearing at Glastonbury Festival "today", pointing out that the event received taxpayer money during the pandemic.
Francois concluded by calling for the home secretary to permit the request of Sir David Amess' family to look at "potential failings" by the counter-terrorism Prevent programme, which may have contributed to his murder.
Dan Jarvis said the scheme which saw the band receive money was inherited from the Conservative administration and that it is now being reviewed.
He reiterated the government's position that it is not for ministers to say who should or shouldn't perform at Glastonbury Festival.
More than 10,000 migrants have landed on UK shores so far this year, government confirms
New data has confirmed reports by Sky News yesterday that the number of migrants who have arrived in the UK via small boat has officially hit the milestone of 10,000 people.
473 migrants arrived on eight small boats yesterday, according to figures released by the Home Office and Border Force.
It means 10,358 people have landed in the UK since the start of the year.
It's the highest number of people to arrive via small boat this early in the year since records began in 2018.
Last year the figure of 10,000 was not reached until 24 May, while in 2023 it was 17 June.
The government has said the rise in the number of people successfully crossing the English Channel from France is due to the recent fair weather and warm temperatures.
But the Conservatives have said blaming the weather is " a pretty lame excuse" and said Labour has removed a deterrent for those thinking of coming to the UK by scrapping the Rwanda scheme last year.
Responding to the figures, a spokesperson for the Home Office insisted the government would "stop at nothing" to take down the smuggling gangs responsible.
They added that intelligence sharing through Border Security Command, enhanced enforcement in northern France, and tougher rules being set out in the Border Security and Asylum Bill will boost the government's "ability to identify disrupt, and dismantle criminal gangs whilst strengthening the security of our borders".
The figures come as ministers unveiled new plans to change the law so that migrants convicted of sex offences cannot claim asylum in the UK.
Government defends 'milkshake tax', saying it is facing a 'childhood obesity epidemic'
The government has defended plans to introduce a so-called 'milkshake tax', which would lead to these being included in levies targeting sugary soft drinks.
A spokesperson for the prime minister said the tax is being put forward because the government "inherited a childhood obesity epidemic".
They said it costs the NHS £19bn a year and added that the existing tax has successfully reduced the content in 65% of drinks.
The spokesperson added that the levy is about encouraging the "reformulation of drinks" so they contain less sugar.
Responding to concerns that the tax could mean some children miss out on calcium, they said that milkshakes "provide 3.5% of calcium intakes for children".
PM: Kneecap's apology is 'half-hearted' - but line-up should be up to organisers
The prime minister wouldn't go to watch Irish hip-hop trio kneecap, a spokesperson for Number 10 has said.
Sir Keir Starmer's spokesperson also said the PM "utterly rejects the views" expressed by the band, which they described as "completely unacceptable".
They said Starmer rejects them in "the strongest terms".
The band is in hot water for comments made, which appeared to endorse Hamas and encourage people to kill their local MP. The group strenuously deny both of these claims and has apologised.
Asked if the matter is now settled, the PM's spokesperson called it "half-hearted" and said it was right the police are investigating the group.
On the issue of Glastonbury Festival, where the band are currently scheduled to play in June, the spokesperson said there are no plans for the government to speak to the event's organisers.
They added that said the decision over whether to allow the band to play at the festival should also lie with the organisers.
Challenged on whether ministers will still go to the festival as is custom, the spokesperson added: "I think people will attend in their own capacity.
"The line-up decision is for them to determine."
