Here's a summary of today's political developments...
Penny Mordaunt said she hopes today’s debate on the privileges committee report that criticised the behaviour of Boris Johnson’s allies will be the “end of this sorry affair”. The Commons leader told MPs the report was an “exceptional situation” and not part of the usual “cut and thrust of politics”.
Buckingham Palace said the king’s meeting with Joe Biden – his first with the US president since his coronation – was “extremely cordial and successful”. A spokesperson for the king said the Windsor Castle visit was “an extremely cordial and successful meeting that touched on a wide variety of issues of mutual interest and concern.”
John Kerry said that King Charles was “way ahead of the curve on a lot of this” referring to the climate crisis – as is Joe Biden with his climate bill. The US special presidential envoy for climate took part in Windsor’s “long walk”.
Joe Biden and Rishi Sunak agreed to ensure Sweden’s Nato accession and safely develop AI, as well as support Ukraine and progress UK-US economic partnership, Downing Street said.
The government said it has handed over “all requisite material” to the Covid-19 inquiry after losing a high court bid to block a request for Boris Johnson’s unredacted WhatsApp messages. The deadline was 4pm today.
After Joe Biden’s visit to Downing Street this morning, the prime minister’s spokesperson has tried to play down reports that the UK and US are split over Ukraine’s hopes to join Nato. The subject would be a discussion point at this week’s Nato summit in Lithuania.
Joe Biden touched down at Windsor castle to meet the King for first time since coronation. After warmly greeting the king, Biden listened to the US national anthem before inspecting the guard of honour before meeting philanthropic leaders to talk about the climate crisis.
Joe Biden said the UK-US relationship is “rock solid” as he visited Downing Street to meet Rishi Sunak ahead of tomorrow’s Nato summit.
Suella Braverman, the home secretary, has condemned climate activists targeting private weddings as “unacceptable” and “deplorable” after a woman threw orange confetti at former chancellor George Osborne’s wedding on Saturday.
That is it from me for today. Thanks for reading.
The Labour leader, Keir Starmer, has said his party is focused on improving children’s confidence, not changing accents.
In an interview with BBC Radio Tees, he said Labour’s education reforms on improving children’s speaking skills are about helping children and young people “speak clearly”.
I think it’s the confidence is actually what I’d say. Children and young people being able to speak clearly. Whatever accent they’ve got doesn’t really matter.
He denied the Conservatives were ahead of Labour on boosting vocational education but admitted there was some “brilliant stuff going on”.
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Commons leader hopes debate on privileges committee report will be 'end of this sorry affair'
Penny Mordaunt has said she hopes today’s debate on the privileges committee report that criticised the behaviour of Boris Johnson’s allies will be the “end of this sorry affair”.
The Commons leader said the report was an “exceptional situation” and not part of the usual “cut and thrust of politics”.
She told MPs today:
I hope colleagues who have been named will reflect on their actions. One of the most painful aspects of this whole affair is that it has involved animosities between colleagues and colleagues of the same political hue.
But I know of at least one member named in the report who has taken the time to speak with regret to some other members of that committee and I applaud them for doing so.
Referring to former PM George Canning, who as foreign secretary fell out with the war minister over troops deployment and was challenged to a duel by Lord Castlereagh in 1809, she added:
I hope that some speeches we might hear this afternoon will acknowledge that obligation we have to one another as colleagues. If Castlereagh and Canning could adopt polite civility after fighting a duel, I live in hope that today will be the end of this sorry affair.
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King's meeting with Biden was "extremely cordial and successful," says palace
Buckingham Palace has said the king’s meeting with Joe Biden – his first with the US president since his coronation – was “extremely cordial and successful”.
A spokesperson for the king said the Windsor Castle visit was “an extremely cordial and successful meeting that touched on a wide variety of issues of mutual interest and concern.”
They added:
You will have seen for yourselves the personal warmth between his majesty and the president.
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Empty council offices could provide 20,000 new homes, according to a new cross-party inquiry by MPs.
The findings, published today, said the conversion of empty commercial and business premises into flats could play a big role in addressing the housing crisis.
However, the group warned, standards for “permitted development rights” need to be improved in order to make sure the new homes would be suitable to be lived in.
Bob Blackman, the Conservative MP for Harrow East and co-chair of the all-party parliamentary group on ending homelessness, said:
The report comes against a backdrop of a severe shortage of affordable housing, which is a core driver of homelessness.
We have heard from witnesses that there is significant scope to repurpose empty buildings to help ease the housing crisis.
Taken together, the recommendations from this inquiry will ensure that conversions are of high quality and contribute to creating places people want to live, rather than making the housing and homelessness crisis worse.
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King Charles was 'way ahead of the curve' on climate crisis, says John Kerry
John Kerry has said that King Charles was “way ahead of the curve on a lot of this” referring to the climate crisis – as is Joe Biden with his climate bill.
The US special presidential envoy for climate, who made the comments in an interview broadcast by Sky News, took part in Windsor’s “long walk”.
He told the BBC that the meeting with the king had gone well and praised his 60 years of campaigning.
After an extended runway chat at Stansted with Jane Hartley, the US ambassador to the UK, Biden embarked on Air Force One to set off for tomorrow’s Nato summit in Lithuania.
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UK and US pledge to ensure Sweden's Nato accession and safe AI in Biden-Sunak meeting
Joe Biden and Rishi Sunak agreed to ensure Sweden’s Nato accession and safely develop AI, as well as support Ukraine and progress UK-US economic partnership, Downing Street has said.
Tweeting after their garden meeting in Downing Street this morning, No 10 said:
The warmest of welcomes to Downing Street, @POTUS 🇬🇧🇺🇸
— UK Prime Minister (@10DowningStreet) July 10, 2023
Ahead of the #NATOSummit this week, @RishiSunak today held talks with US President Joe Biden.
More on what was discussed below👇 pic.twitter.com/833jk7cgkE
Reflecting on the enduring strength of our alliance, the leaders covered:
— UK Prime Minister (@10DowningStreet) July 10, 2023
📈 Progress to bolster the 🇬🇧🇺🇸 economic partnership
✅ The development of safe AI
🇺🇦 Continuing long-term support for Ukraine
🇸🇪 Ensuring Sweden’s accession to @NATOhttps://t.co/C75c54mY8T
The prime minister also shared a message from Biden written in the Downing Street visitor book that read: “May our two great nations always [underlined] stay together as we defend our shared values and build a better and better future for the world.”
✍️ The President also wrote a short message in the Downing Street visitor book.
— UK Prime Minister (@10DowningStreet) July 10, 2023
Our nations stand together as allies, and the very best of friends 🇬🇧🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/Vopro04XYa
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Ministers are offering rebel Conservative MPs concessions on key asylum legislation amid growing concern it could face defeats in the Commons.
The government is expected to limit plans to detain children and pregnant women who arrive in the UK by small boats and drop some of the retrospective applications of the illegal migration bill’s measures, the Guardian understands.
It remains unclear whether compromises will be offered to protect victims of modern slavery, as demanded by MPs including Theresa May.
The bill, which is meant to fulfil Rishi Sunak’s promise to “stop the boats”, will complete its final stage in the House of Lords with a vote on Monday night. The draft legislation returns to the House of Commons on Tuesday for MPs to consider the 20 amendments made to it by peers.
The government was expected to offer a concession to Conservative MPs opposed to the bill’s powers to detain unaccompanied children, sources confirmed. Another would also limit the time period for locking up pregnant women who cross the Channel, it is understood.
Amendments will be released by the government at 4.30pm on Monday. After MPs vote on the bill on Tuesday, it will be passed back to the Lords to decide whether the upper chamber will once again amend the bill in a process known as “ping-pong”.
Ministers are seeking to ensure that the illegal migration bill will enable the detention of asylum seekers who arrive via irregular means and their deportation to a third country such as Rwanda.
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London Underground drivers are to strike in a long-running dispute over pensions and conditions. Aslef said its members would take action on 26 July and 28, coinciding with industrial action by members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union.
It will coincide with members of the RMT union also taking “rolling action” between Sunday 23 July and Friday 28 July. The RMT said there would be no strike on Monday 24, with staff in different sections and grades halting work on different shifts on each of the other days.
Finn Brennan, Aslef’s full-time organiser on London Underground, said: “We take action only when needed. Unfortunately, the last few weeks have shown that London Underground management are determined to try to push through detrimental changes, despite trade union opposition.”
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At the Unite conference in Brighton, delegates debated whether the trade union – one of Britains’s biggest – should sever ties with Labour. Any such move would put a serious dent in Labour’s finances and could set the union on a path to donating money to other parties or candidates.
Delegates “overwhelmingly” chose to retain Unite’s formal link with Labour, Aubrey Allegretti reports, but the general secretary, Sharon Graham, said Keir Starmer had been put “on notice” and she warned that the union’s support should not be taken for granted.
“Labour must be Labour and the union must push them into that position,” she said. “We must make them take different choices. We will not make the same mistakes of the past. There will be no blank cheques for Labour until we see tangible results.”
However, she added: “This is the moment of maximum leverage for the union where we can hold Labour to account. Now cannot be the time to walk away. We would be weakening our own arm.
“It would be the worst time to leave the Labour party when they are in touching distance of power. If we leave we wouldn’t influence that power.”
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A few more details from this morning’s Downing Street meeting between Rishi Sunak and Joe Biden.
Also among the issues discussed (see also 12.46pm) were:
The US decision to provide Ukraine with cluster munitions
US secretary of state Antony Blinken and British foreign secretary James Cleverly also attended the meeting, which lasted around 40 minutes
The UK’s commitments under an international convention not to produce or use cluster munitions and to discourage their use. The prime minister’s spokesperson said they “discussed the requirements the prime minister is under because of this convention, and the UK is upholding that”
David Lammy, the shadow foreign secretary, has accused the government of giving Russia and China “ammunition” to defend breaking international law.
The MP for Tottenham said a future Labour government would commit to restoring the duty for ministers to comply with international law after the obligation was removed by the Conservatives under David Cameron.
A Labour-run government would have an “unwavering respect for the rule of law both in domestic law and international law” he said, during a speech to the Bingham Centre of International Law today.
As prime minister, Boris Johnson threatened to rewrite Northern Ireland’s post-Brexit trade arrangements without agreement from the EU. The nationality and borders act, meanwhile, has attracted widespread condemnation by lawyers and UN officials. The illegal migration bill has also been heavily criticised.
Lammy said:
We consistently proclaim the importance of complying with international law to other nations.
We tell Iran to comply with the JCPOA (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action). We tell China to comply with the Sino-British Joint Declaration in Hong Kong.
We are right to do so. Agreements must be kept.
Yet our ability to protect and promote international law has been fundamentally undermined by the dangerous attitude of the present government. It has weakened our foreign policy while strengthening that of our rivals.
It has provided ammunition to countries such as Russia and China, who use allegations of hypocrisy as a tool in the UN.
He added:
Labour’s vision for foreign policy is to reconnect Britain for our security and prosperity at home.
We believe in Britain but we are frustrated by the Conservative-manufactured decline in our influence.
We can restore Britain’s standing and realise our potential by using the international rule of law as the connective tissue which binds us to other nations.
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Rishi Sunak is not expected to attend a Commons debate today about the privileges committee report that criticised the conduct of Boris Johnson’s allies.
The prime minister’s official spokesperson said
I am not aware that it has been confirmed that there will be a vote.
The PM is due to fly to Vilnius in Lithuania later today ahead of tomorrow’s critical Nato summit.
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Downing Street has said the number of people crossing the Channel is “too large” after more than 1,000 migrants crossed in the last three days.
Rishi Sunak’s spokesperson said:
I think we always knew that, as we move into the summer months, crossings will escalate. We are continuing to stop significant numbers of crossings.
I still believe that you are more likely to be stopped and turned back than to make the crossing, and that’s because of the work with our French counterparts and the extra support that we have put in.
But clearly the numbers making the journeys are still too large and that’s why we need the other elements of our ‘stop the boats’ package.
The package mentioned includes the Rwanda deal, which is subject to a legal battle headed for the supreme court, and the illegal migration bill, which came under heavy criticism in the House of Lords.
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Government hands over 'all requisite material' to Covid inquiry
The government has said it has handed over “all requisite material” to the Covid-19 inquiry after losing a high court bid to block a request for Boris Johnson’s unredacted WhatsApp messages.
Last week’s legal defeat came with a new cabinet office deadline to hand over the former prime minister’s messages, notebooks and diaries in full by 4pm today.
The prime minister’s spokesperson said: “All requisite material has been handed over.”
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A few images of Biden’s arrival at Windsor:
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Downing Street plays down reports of UK-US split over Ukraine Nato membership
After Joe Biden’s visit to Downing Street this morning, the prime minister’s spokesperson has tried to play down reports that the UK and US are split over Ukraine’s hopes to join Nato.
The subject would be a discussion point at this week’s Nato summit in Lithuania.
The spokesperson said:
Certainly, we do want to support Ukraine on the pathway to joining the alliance, the exact mechanisms for that are for discussion with Nato allies.
Rejecting suggestions that the two countries’ positions on the issue differed, the spokesperson said:
I have seen that reporting but I don’t believe that’s accurate.
Biden touches down at Windsor castle to meet the King for first time since coronation
Biden touches down at Windsor castle to meet the King for first time since coronation.
After warmly greeting the king, Biden listened to the US national anthem before inspecting the guard of honour.
Followed by the king, he looked the soldiers in the eyes and appeared solemn before the two men disappeared inside for tea and a conversation with philanthropic leaders on climate.
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Back to Windsor, where the king and Biden shake hands, Biden placing one arm behind the king’s back, before listening to a performance of the US national anthem.
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Biden told Sunak he 'couldn't be meeting with a closer friend and greater ally'
During his meeting with Rishi Sunak, Joe Biden said he “couldn’t be meeting with a closer friend and greater ally”.
Despite clashes over Ukraine’s Nato membership and cluster munitions, he said the UK-US relationship was “rock solid”, reports the BBC.
Sunak said it was “great for us to carry on our conversation” and that the leaders would think about how to strengthen cooperation and joint economic security
Biden has touched down at Windsor castle for his first meeting with king since his coronation. The king has taken his position to welcome the president.
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When Biden met the late queen in 2021 he said she reminded him of his mother.
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The presidential helicopters have come into view above Windsor Castle. Once they have landed, Joe Biden will make an entrance by car – his first meeting with the king since the coronation, which first lady Jill Biden attended without the president.
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When Joe Biden met the then Prince Charles at Cop26 in Glasgow, the royal made an urgent call for action.
Also in 2021, they met at the G7 meeting in Cornwall, where the environment was a central theme.
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After Downing Street, where he sat down for tea with Rishi Sunak in the garden, the next stop for Joe Biden in his whistlestop UK visit is Windsor Castle.
Although it is not a state visit, he will be greeted with a royal salute and a performance of the US national anthem by the Welsh Guards before having more tea – this time with the king.
There they will meet finance and philanthropic leaders who will tell them about the findings of a climate finance mobilisation forum on how to support poorer nations.
The US president and Sunak will soon be meeting again, at the long-anticipated two-day Nato summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, which kicks off tomorrow.
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Seventh SNP MP John McNally confirms he will not stand in next general election
Moving away from the transatlantic love-in for a moment, a seventh SNP MP has confirmed he will not contest his seat at the next general election.
Falkirk MP John McNally has ruled himself out for re-election after eight years at Westminster.
The 72-year-old was first elected in the 2015 general election after securing a significant 19,701 vote majority.
But the barber by trade has now followed a string of high-profile SNP colleagues by confirming he will not contest his Westminster seat when an election is held next year.
The politician revealed to the Falkirk Herald that the decision had been taken to allow him to spend more time with his family.
His decision not to seek re-election follows the party’s Westminster deputy leader, Mhairi Black, who announced last week she was stepping down due to the toxic environment.
Former Westminster SNP leader Ian Blackford and ex-party deputy leader Stewart Hosie are among the high-profile names also choosing not to contest their seats.
His colleagues Peter Grant, Angela Crawley and Douglas Chapman will also not contest their seats.
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Joe Biden appeared in good spirits as he left No 10 following talks with Rishi Sunak, PA media reports
Biden emerged alongside Sunak at 11.17am and briefly paused on the doorstep to look up at the sky.
The US president then shared a brief exchange with the prime minister and stopped to smile widely for the cameras, before returning to his car and departing Downing Street.
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Biden says UK-US relationship is 'rock solid' in significant week for transatlantic relations
Joe Biden said the UK-US relationship is “rock solid” as he visited Downing Street to meet Rishi Sunak ahead of tomorrow’s Nato summit.
More pictures from Biden’s arrival at Downing Street – his first as president.
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Joe Biden arrives at Downing Street ahead of crucial Nato summit
Joe Biden has arrived at Downing Street for his first time as president ahead of tomorrow’s Nato summit in Lithuania.
After stepping out of US presidential vehicle “the Beast”, he shared a warm handshake with Rishi Sunak on the doorstep and smiled to press before disappearing behind the door to Number 10.
Also in the presidential convoy was the US ambassador to the UK, Jane Hartley.
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Joe Biden’s convoy has been filmed leaving Winfield House, the official residence of the US ambassador, and is on its way from Regent’s Park to Downing Street.
Labour must do more to dispel the perception of racism within the party, the widow of one of the country’s first black British MPs has said, amid frustrations that no graduate of the party’s sole scheme for developing minority ethnic talent has been selected to stand as an MP.
The party has launched the second cohort of its Bernie Grant leadership programme (BGLP), dedicated to developing the next generation of black politicians, in recognition of a lack of diversity across all levels.
Sharon Grant criticised the party for not following through with its promise to provide support to graduates, many of whom are councillors, adding the BGLP may not be “worthy of bearing Bernie’s name” unless there is tangible progress on black representation across the party.
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Larry the cat is cheered by waiting press at Downing Street by stepping on to the red carpet put out for Joe Biden.
Larry the Cat gets the biggest cheer so far as he appears on the red carpet@LBC @LBCNews pic.twitter.com/80QYslAZUo
— Henry Riley (@HenryRiley1) July 10, 2023
The White House has said the visit is intended to “further strengthen the close relationship between our nations”.
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Joe Biden’s Westminster arrival appears to be imminent. A red carpet is being prepared outside Downing Street.
Suella Braverman attacks "deplorable" protest at George Osborne's wedding
Suella Braverman has condemned climate activists targeting private weddings as “unacceptable” and “deplorable” after a woman threw orange confetti at former chancellor George Osborne’s wedding on Saturday.
She told ITV’s Good Morning Britain:
I totally disagree. I don’t care what your cause is, there really is no good reason to try and interrupt another private citizen’s civil liberties, rights, freedoms.
And the way in which this person has attempted to ruin someone else’s wedding day... I’m sure they didn’t succeed, incidentally, because their efforts will have been in vain. They are only alienating supporters rather than attracting them.
It is unacceptable, it is deplorable and, as I have made very clear time and time again, the militant, disruptive, selfish tactics of groups like Just Stop Oil, who are causing misery in many cases to the law-abiding majority through slow walking, through various extreme tactics, is totally unacceptable. Their approach is not working but I’m very pleased with how the police have been responding.
She added:
We’ve given them extra powers through our new Public Order Act, they have been able to take swift action and actually in recent weeks since the powers came into force, it has averaged on some days less than 10 minutes for the police to intervene and stop Just Stop Oil from causing serious disruption to the law-abiding majority.
Just Stop Oil have praised the protest but denied responsibility.
Joe Biden to meet Rishi Sunak ahead of crunch Nato summit and have tea with King
After touching down at Stansted last night, Joe Biden will meet Rishi Sunak at Downing Street this morning ahead of tomorrow’s Nato summit in Vilnius.
After his meeting with the prime minister – where topics for discussion are expected to include the war in Ukraine, the country’s Nato membership bid and sending cluster munitions to Ukraine (which the US has faced criticism for) – he will then have tea with the king in Windsor.
Biden is hesitant on Ukraine’s Nato bid, while Sunak supports tracking membership.
They are also expected to discuss the Northern Ireland peace process post-Brexit. Last night, John Kerry, Biden’s climate envoy, told the BBC it will form a “critical component” of their discussion.
The meeting, which will be their fifth in as many months, comes ahead of a long and highly anticipated crunch two-day Nato summit in Lithuania, which starts tomorrow, as several countries – including Ukraine and Sweden - are trying to join the alliance.
His arrival in Windsor is to be received with a royal salute, a performance of the US national anthem by the Welsh Guards and tea. Biden and the king will meet financial and philanthropic leaders where climate finance will be on the agenda.
After Biden’s arrival last night he flew by helicopter to the London residence of the US ambassador.
I will be looking after the UK politics blog today. Please get in touch with any tips or suggestions: miranda.bryant@guardian.co.uk
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