Star Wars

His remarks come as foreign secretary Yvette Cooper meets her counterparts at a G7 meeting in FranceHello and welcome to the UK politics blog, follow along to get the latest updates.Foreign secretary Yvette Cooper is in France today for the meeting of G7 foreign ministers in Vaux-de-Cernay, near Paris, where she is expected to speak with US secretary of state Marco Rubio. On top of the agenda is the conflict in the Middle East, with reports suggesting Rubio will ask ministers for help reopening the strait of Hormuz.Starmer is visiting a school in London this morning, as new government guidance advices parents to limit screen time for children under the age of five to one hour a day, while under-twos should not be watching screens alone.Peter Mandelson will reportedly be asked to hand over messages from his personal phone as part of the government’s disclosure of documents related to his appointment as UK ambassador to the US. The government has so far only had access to his work phone. Starmer told Sky News that he “beats himself up” over Mandelson’s appointment, saying it was a mistake he would never repeat. Continue reading...

PM refuses to be drawn into wider conflict as Germany and Italy defy Trump’s call to help reopen strait of HormuzMiddle East crisis – live updatesKeir Starmer insisted on Monday that the UK would not be drawn into the wider war in the Middle East as European leaders ruled out sending warships to the strait of Hormuz.In his clearest signal yet of the UK’s divergence from Donald Trump’s attack on Iran, the prime minister said he would stand firm in the face of US pressure despite the decision being “difficult, there’s no hiding that”. Continue reading...