2 hours ago
Welcome and opening summary
Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of UK politics for Thursday. Here are the headlines:
The prime minister has said that a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas will be seen as a moment of “profound relief”. Foreign secretary Yvette Cooper has echoed Keir Starmer’s sentiment, saying the UK “stands ready to play our part” in implementing a peace plan, whe she said should be “implemented as swiftly as possible”.
Starmer said he and India’s prime minister Narendra Modi discussed the need for a “just and lasting peace in Ukraine”, as well as “breaking away from dependence on fossil fuels” during the Labour leader’s visit to the country.
Environment minister Emma Hardy said she understands the public’s anger, after five water firms were provisionally granted permission to raise their bills by between 1% and 5%.
Cabinet ministers have been told they will not be able to use the Treasury reserve to fund public sector pay rises and cannot access it unless there are exceptional circumstances.
Justice secretary David Lammy has ruled out reintroducing charges for employment tribunals after a backlash from unions over the proposals.
It is Martin Belam back with you today – long time no see. Do drop me a line via email if you spot typos, errors or omissions to martin.belam@theguardian.com.
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In other political reaction in the UK to the prospect of a ceasefire in Gaza, the Green party of England and Wales’ Westminster leader, Ellie Chowns, described it as a moment of “real hope”.
Posting to social media, the MP for North Herefordshire said “News of the ‘first phase’ of a ceasefire in Gaza is a moment of real hope. This must be the first step of many, including release of all hostages, full humanitarian access to Gaza, and self-determination for Palestinians.”
Chris Bryant, the Labour MP for Rhondda and Ogmore and minister for trade, said “Let’s hope this can deliver long lasting peace with justice for all.”
Speaking on Times Radio, PA Media reports Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden said:
I think we’ve got more hope this morning than we’ve had for a long time. I think it opens up potentially big possibilities, not just as I say in the immediate few days, but for the longer term future.
And that takes us back to the 20-point plan that was released by the US about a week ago, which has the support of the UK Government, as the prime minister made clear at our party conference last week.
So it’s a very hopeful moment, and as I say, let’s hope that the hostages are released in the next few days, and hope that the suffering of the people of Gaza can stop and we can get the humanitarian aid that’s needed and then rebuild from there.
Badenoch: Gaza ceasefire deal 'hugely welcome' and will be 'enormous relief' to hostage families
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has said that a ceasefire deal in Gaza was “hugely welcome” and would come as an “enormous relief” to the families of Israeli hostages.
In a post to social media, Badenoch wrote:
The ceasefire deal in Gaza is hugely welcome. It will be an enormous relief to the families of Israeli hostages, so cruelly captured by Hamas two years ago. President Trump deserves credit for brokering this deal, with the support of Arab partners and Turkey. Hamas must now fully disarm and return all hostage, so the suffering in Gaza is eased and the war ends as swiftly as possible.
Ed Davey: peace plan must be first step to two-state solution
Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey has said that a ceasefire in Gaza must be a “first step” to a two-state solution in the region.
In a statement, the MP for Kingston and Surbiton said:
News of a ceasefire deal in Gaza brings real hope. The UK and our allies must do all we can to get the hostages home, get aid in to starving people, and finally end this horrific violence. This must be the first step towards a two-state solution and a lasting peace.
Cooper to head to Paris to discuss Gaza peace plan implementation
Foreign secretary Yvette Cooper has said that later today she will travel to Paris for discussion about the implementation of a peace plan for Gaza.
Speaking at Hillsborough Castle, where she is hosting a summit on the western Balkans today, she said:
The agreement on the first phase of President Trump’s peace initiative is a moment of profound significance, relief and hope. And I want to pay tribute to the negotiators.
After two years of the most devastating suffering, with tens of thousands of lives being lost, with the pain of hostages held for so long, and with the humanitarian crisis taking place, the agreement now to a ceasefire, to the restoration of humanitarian aid and to the release of all the hostages is immensely important and must be implemented as swiftly as possible.
Later today I will be travelling from here with the German foreign minister, my colleague, to Paris for the discussions later today about how all nations can support the immense work that has been done thus far on President Trump’s peace initiative, but also how we make sure that we take it forward.
Starmer: Gaza peace plan a moment of 'profound relief' for the world
Israel and Hamas’ agreement to the initial phases of a plan to end fighting in Gaza is a “moment of profound relief that will be felt around the world”, the prime minister has said.
Responding to the news during his trip to India, Keir Starmer said:
I welcome the news that a deal has been reached on the first stage of President Trump’s peace plan for Gaza.
This is a moment of profound relief that will be felt all around the world, but particularly for the hostages, their families, and for the civilian population of Gaza, who have all endured unimaginable suffering over the last two years.
This agreement must now be implemented in full, without delay, and accompanied by the immediate lifting of all restrictions on life-saving humanitarian aid to Gaza.
We call on all parties to meet the commitments they have made, to end the war, and to build the foundations for a just and lasting end to the conflict and a sustainable path to a long-term peace. The UK will support these crucial immediate steps and the next stage of talks to ensure the full implementation of the peace plan.
Welcome and opening summary
Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of UK politics for Thursday. Here are the headlines:
The prime minister has said that a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas will be seen as a moment of “profound relief”. Foreign secretary Yvette Cooper has echoed Keir Starmer’s sentiment, saying the UK “stands ready to play our part” in implementing a peace plan, whe she said should be “implemented as swiftly as possible”.
Starmer said he and India’s prime minister Narendra Modi discussed the need for a “just and lasting peace in Ukraine”, as well as “breaking away from dependence on fossil fuels” during the Labour leader’s visit to the country.
Environment minister Emma Hardy said she understands the public’s anger, after five water firms were provisionally granted permission to raise their bills by between 1% and 5%.
Cabinet ministers have been told they will not be able to use the Treasury reserve to fund public sector pay rises and cannot access it unless there are exceptional circumstances.
Justice secretary David Lammy has ruled out reintroducing charges for employment tribunals after a backlash from unions over the proposals.
It is Martin Belam back with you today – long time no see. Do drop me a line via email if you spot typos, errors or omissions to martin.belam@theguardian.com.
