European summit live: Starmer hosts leaders as Labour warns UK ‘nowhere near’ Brexit deal renegotiation with EU

Keir Starmer has scored his first EU success after the Irish prime minister described a reset between the 2 international locations as “actual” and “significant”.

The UK and Irish governments have additionally pledged to carry annual conferences to “deepen and re-invigorate co-operation” after the 2 males met at Chequers on Wednesday night.

Our Whitehall editor Kate Devlin has the total story:

Volodymyr Zelensky has arrived on the European Political Group summit at Blenheim Palace close to Oxford.

The Ukrainian president stopped briefly to say he counted on assist from Sir Keir Starmer within the warfare in opposition to Russia, including he was trying ahead to a number of bilateral conferences with the newly-elected prime minister at this time. 

Chatting with broadcasters, he mentioned: “We may have a gathering. I depend on his assist as a result of actually the UK demonstrated management from the very starting of Russian assaults.”

The EPC was arrange in 2022 in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in a bid to carry collectively European leaders to indicate a united assist.

Mr Zelensky attends the summit only a week after Nato leaders promised his nation extra air defences.

King’s Speech units out Labour flagship insurance policies to fast-track housebuilding, nationalise railways and ‘modernise’ the asylum system – as PM prepares to host different leaders and ‘reset and renew’ our relationship with Europe.

Our politics crew has the total story:

“We’re with you,” mentioned Hungary Prime Minister Viktor Orban as he’s requested what his message to Ukraine is as he arrives on the EPC Summit.

“It’s unattainable to discover a resolution on the battlefield,” he mentioned, earlier than including there wanted to be a ceasefire and peace negotiations held.

Mr Orban’s strategy clashes with the views of many European leaders who’ve reconfirmed their unwavering dedication to offer continued political, monetary, financial, humanitarian, navy and diplomatic assist to Ukraine.

He lately claimed Donald Trump would push for peace in Ukraine “instantly” in a letter he wrote to European Union leaders.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has arrived however doesn’t cease to talk to ready journalists, Alex Ross writes.

As a substitute he walks alongside the purple carpet to fulfill a ready Sir Keir Starmer who will welcome him inside Blenheim Palace for this EPC Summit.

The Irish prime minister has arrived at Blenheim Palace to attend the European Political Group summit hosted by Sir Keir Starmer.

Mr Harris appeared all smiles as he was welcomed by the prime minister.

Each leaders appear to have constructed a more in-depth relationship after they shared a toast to “reset” the UK-Eire bond over pints.

Throughout a gathering on the backyard at Chequers yesterday, Sir Keir mentioned it was time to “transfer on to the subsequent chapter, for stronger and deeper ties between each international locations”.

Councils throughout England will likely be handed the facility to duplicate London’s “world-class” bus community, transport secretary Louise Haigh mentioned.

The cupboard minister made the dedication as she met Mayor of London Sadiq Khan on a go to to Waterloo bus storage on Thursday.

Laws to offer all councils the facility to franchise native bus providers was included in Wednesday’s King’s Speech.

The Higher Buses Invoice is geared toward delivering the Authorities’s ambition to enhance providers nationwide.

Franchising entails native authorities figuring out the main points of bus providers supplied by personal corporations, comparable to routes, timetables and requirements.

Whereas bus providers in London and Manchester are franchised, most English native authorities should not have the facility to take action.

Ms Haigh mentioned: “I’m thrilled to fulfill Sadiq Khan at this time to see first-hand how Transport for London (TfL) is delivering one of many world’s best, inexpensive and sustainable transport networks on the planet.

“It’s working proof that passengers should not have to place up with a damaged bus system.

“We’re solely two weeks in Authorities, and we’re already taking the quick lane in the direction of higher built-in journey for all.

“Our Higher Buses Invoice will take away obstacles and empower native leaders to duplicate London’s world-class bus community throughout the nation, giving passengers a transport system they’ll actually depend on.”

Spain’s Pedro Sánchez mentioned he’d be trying to carry the topic of migration to the desk, saying it was a key difficulty for the Spanish folks, Alex Ross writes.

The socialist prime minister mentioned Ukraine may even be on the agenda.

He added: “I feel we may have essential matters to speak about… it’s an essential assembly and I’m trying ahead to my first assembly with new prime minister Keir Starmer.”

Newest figures revealed greater than 19,000 folks have reached the archipelago by sea within the first months of this 12 months representing a hike of 167 per cent from the earlier 12 months.

The surge brought on an enormous migration row on the Spanish parliament with Vox’s far-right chief Santiago Abascal quitting regional governments in protest.

Work and Pensions secretary Liz Kendall has slammed the “actually dire” state of unemployment as new stats reveal that there are 9.4m people who find themselves economically inactive within the UK.

New labour market knowledge from the Workplace of Nationwide Statistics exhibits that the variety of folks out of labor is at a close to document excessive, with the UK the one G7 nation whose employment price just isn’t again to pre-pandemic ranges.

The proportion of individuals employed has fallen to 74.4 per cent whereas 2.8m folks at the moment are out of labor resulting from long-term illness.

Ms Kendall mentioned the Labour authorities had been left with a “actually dire inheritance” by the Tories.

She mentioned: “Behind these statistics are actual folks, who’ve for too lengthy been ignored and denied the assist they should get into work and get on at work.”

Slovenia’s Prime Minster Robert Golob says the topic of vitality will likely be on the high of his listing for discussions, in addition to safety agreements over the Ukraine warfare, Alex Ross writes.

Requested if this was a possibility to reset relations between the EU and the UK, he mentioned: “Completely so, particularly after the elections. There are excessive hopes inside Europe.”