Minister confirms support package may be offered as energy prices forecast to rise in July – UK politics live

Show key events onlyPlease turn on JavaScript to use this featureFrom 2h agoBuckingham Palace confirms king's state visit to US going ahead next month, with Charles addressing CongressThe king’s state visit to the US is to go ahead next month as planned, Buckingham Palace has finally confirmed. The Press Association says: double quotation markCharles and the queen’s long-expected historic trip to see Donald Trump will take place in late April despite calls for it to be postponed because of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. It will be the king’s first visit to the US as monarch and the first state visit by a British sovereign to America for nearly 20 years, since Queen Elizabeth II’s tour in 2007. Charles and Camilla will commemorate the 250th anniversary of American independence, attend a glittering state dinner at the White House, and the king will address Congress, the Palace confirmed. But exact dates and details have yet to be disclosed. Buckingham Palace said: double quotation markOn advice of His Majesty’s government, and at the invitation of the President of the United States, the king and queen will undertake a State Visit to the United States of America. Their Majesties’ programme will celebrate the historic connections and the modern bilateral relationship between the United Kingdom and the United States, marking the 250th anniversary of American Independence. The king will then continue to Bermuda to undertake His Majesty’s first Royal Visit as Monarch to a British Overseas Territory. Key events48s agoGreens propose one low-tax flight for everyone per year, with levy for frequent fliers, as alternative to Reform UK's APD plan26m agoUS defence secretary Pete Hegseth joins Trump in taunting UK, with jibe about Royal Navy1h agoTurner not being suspended for opposing government's plans to curb trial by jury, sources say1h agoTurner says, although media have been told he has had Labour whip suspended, he hasn't been notified1h agoKarl Turner MP has Labour whip suspended1h agoReform UK claims Plaid Cymru/Green pact would deliver 'woke policies on steroids' for Wales2h agoEd Davey says Starmer showing 'staggering lack of backbone' by allowing state visit to US to go ahead despite Trump's insults2h agoYvette Cooper says Israel wrong to pass law imposing death penalty on Palestinians guilty of fatal attacks2h agoBuckingham Palace confirms king's state visit to US going ahead next month, with Charles addressing Congress2h agoGreenpeace UK criticise Reform UK's pledge to get rid of air passenger duty2h agoZack Polanski says Greens could be 'kingmakers' in Senedd after election because they are likely to hold balance of power3h agoTrump tells UK 'you'll have to start learning how to fight for yourself' in taunt over fuel oil shortages3h agoStreeting claims deal with BMA to avert resident doctors' strike still possible3h agoTrump 'not dictating policy to me', says Farage3h agoFarage says he's opposed to youth mobility deal with EU, claiming it's 'just attempt to completely undo Brexit'4h agoFarage rejects claim election candidate controversies mean Reform UK's vetting procedures flawed4h agoFarage says he does not think anyone fully knows what Trump's Iran war aims are4h agoReform UK says it would abolish air passenger duty on short-haul flights5h agoHome Office tells police to stop recording non-crime hate incidents5h agoMinister confirms support package may be offered as experts predict energy price cap to rise by £288 in July5h agoGrooming gangs inquiry to examine role of ethnicity, culture and religion6h agoBMA dismisses Starmer’s 48-hour warning over resident doctors’ strike plan, calling for talks not 'threats'Show key events onlyPlease turn on JavaScript to use this featureGreens propose one low-tax flight for everyone per year, with levy for frequent fliers, as alternative to Reform UK's APD planThe Green party has criticised Reform UK’s proposal to get rid of air passenger duty (see 11.23am) asRachel Millward, a co-deputy leader of the Greens, said: double quotation markAbolishing air passenger duty is another unfunded giveaway which would largely help wealthier people but dressed up as a special offer to families flying off to Spain for their summer hols. This policy would mostly benefit the 15% of people who take around 70% of flights from the UK and offer no support at all to the estimated 50% of people who take zero flights in any given year. A much fairer solution for both people and climate, advocated by the Green party, is to offer one flight a year at low or zero tax and then apply a frequent flyer levy on any additional flights – a levy that would increase with each extra flight taken in any given year. US defence secretary Pete Hegseth joins Trump in taunting UK, with jibe about Royal NavyPete Hegseth, the US defence secretary, has been holding a press conference, and, taking a lead from his boss (see 12.31pm), he has also engaged in a bit of Brit-bashing. As Sky News reports, he said: double quotation markI think the president was clear this morning in his Truth that there are countries around the world who ought to be prepared to step up on this critical waterway [the strait of Hormuz] as well … Last time I checked, there was supposed to be a big, bad Royal Navy that could be prepared to do things like that as well. Pete Hegseth at his Pentagon news conference today. Photograph: Oliver Contreras/AFP/Getty ImagesTurner not being suspended for opposing government's plans to curb trial by jury, sources sayHere is more on the suspension of Karl Turner.This is from the Press Association. double quotation markThe Press Association understands the Kingston upon Hull East MP was informed by chief whip Jonathan Reynolds that he was suspending the whip “following his recent conduct”. And these are from my colleague Jessica Elgot. double quotation markI understand several MPs complained about an interview criticising No10 that Turner gave to Jody McIntyre for his X account. McIntyre is a campaigner who stood against Jess Phillips at the general election in a campaign she heavily criticised. double quotation markLabour sources say the suspension is not about Turner’s opposition to jury reform or criticism of figures in Number 10 but suggest it relates to conduct online and towards other MPs. Turner has been one of the most vocal critics of jury reform as a former barrister. In 2025, after four Labour MPs had the whip suspended, a party source was quoted in the Times as saying they were being punished for “persistent knobheadery”. That was last year, but the term may still be helpful in explaining what sort of behaviour can get you kicked out of the PLP.Turner says, although media have been told he has had Labour whip suspended, he hasn't been notifiedKarl Turner says, while the media have been told he has lost the Labour whip (see 1.52pm), he has not been notified about this by the party. In a post on social media he says: double quotation markI am being told that I have had the whip suspended but I have not had any notification from the whips about this. It seems journalists have been told but I have not. Karl Turner MP has Labour whip suspendedThe Labour MP Karl Turner has had the party whip suspended, the Press Association has reported in a news alert.Turner, who represents Kingston upon Hull East, has been leading backbench opposition to the government’s plans to restrict access to trial by jury (although at second reading he did not actually vote against the bill containing the plans, and just abstained). But he has also been outspoken on other issues, and last week he claimed that Morgan McSweeney, the PM’s former chief of staff, was lying when he said his mobile phone had been stolen last year.I will post more on the story as further details come in.Reform UK claims Plaid Cymru/Green pact would deliver 'woke policies on steroids' for WalesDan Thomas, the Reform UK leader in Wales, says a Plaid Cymru/Green coalition in Cardiff would lead to independence and “woke policies on steroids”. In a post responding to the Green party campaign launch in Cardiff this moring (see 12.56pm), he claims: double quotation markA Plaid/Green coalition of the unhinged would lead to Wales being torn out of the UK and woke policies on steroids. Plaid and the Greens are both officially in favour of independence. But Plaid says it would not push for independence in its first term in office and, at the Green event today, the party’s leader in Wales, Anthony Slaughter, said the Greens would not be “pushing a pro-independence agenda” in this election.Ed Davey says Starmer showing 'staggering lack of backbone' by allowing state visit to US to go ahead despite Trump's insultsThe Liberal Democrats have condemned Keir Starmer for allowing the king’s state visit to the US to go ahead in the light of Donald Trump’s repeated insults about the UK.In a statement Ed Davey, the Lib Dem leader, who has been arguing for some time that the visit should be cancelled, said: double quotation markThe prime minister is showing a staggering lack of backbone by pushing ahead with this state visit while Donald Trump treats our country with contempt. To send the king on a state visit to the US after Trump dismissed our Royal Navy as ‘toys’ is a humiliation, and a sign of a government too weak to stand up to bullies. What appalling thing does Trump have to do next to make the Government see sense and cancel the state visit? Trump, whose mother was Scottish, claims to be an anglophile. But in recent weeks he has repeated criticised and insulted the UK, and Keir Starmer in particular, because of the UK’s refusal to fully support his war in Iran. He has criticised other European countries and Nato allies too, but he seems to be particularly bothered by Britain’s stance.Yvette Cooper says Israel wrong to pass law imposing death penalty on Palestinians guilty of fatal attacksYvette Cooper, the foreign secretary, has criticised the Israeli parliament’s decision to a law imposing the death penalty on Palestinians convicted of fatal attacks. In a post on social media, she says the UK issued a joint statement with Germany, France and Italy condemning the legislation before the final vote. double quotation markMy statement with France, Germany and Italy on our united opposition to Israel’s death penalty law. The death penalty is wrong and we oppose it around the world. Buckingham Palace confirms king's state visit to US going ahead next month, with Charles addressing CongressThe king’s state visit to the US is to go ahead next month as planned, Buckingham Palace has finally confirmed. The Press Association says: double quotation markCharles and the queen’s long-expected historic trip to see Donald Trump will take place in late April despite calls for it to be postponed because of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. It will be the king’s first visit to the US as monarch and the first state visit by a British sovereign to America for nearly 20 years, since Queen Elizabeth II’s tour in 2007. Charles and Camilla will commemorate the 250th anniversary of American independence, attend a glittering state dinner at the White House, and the king will address Congress, the Palace confirmed. But exact dates and details have yet to be disclosed. Buckingham Palace said: double quotation markOn advice of His Majesty’s government, and at the invitation of the President of the United States, the king and queen will undertake a State Visit to the United States of America. Their Majesties’ programme will celebrate the historic connections and the modern bilateral relationship between the United Kingdom and the United States, marking the 250th anniversary of American Independence. The king will then continue to Bermuda to undertake His Majesty’s first Royal Visit as Monarch to a British Overseas Territory. Greenpeace UK criticise Reform UK's pledge to get rid of air passenger dutyGreenpeace UK has criticised Reform UK for proposing to get rid of air passenger duty. (See 11.23am.) Lily-Rose Ellis, a climate campaigner for Greenpeace, said: double quotation markAs Trump’s war causes price spikes and flight cancellations, it won’t surprise anyone to see Farage rush to point the finger at taxes. This policy fits perfectly with Reform’s brand of rightwing populism, which seems surprisingly closely aligned to the commercial interests of their wealthy donors and the sleaze we saw from the last government. Not only does Christopher Harborne, the UK’s biggest political donor who gave Reform £12m in the last financial year, sell aviation fuel, but Heathrow gave Reform £36,000 last year too. The idea that this is the party that is going to take on the elites in defence of the common man is transparent nonsense, they’re the Tory plan B, with the same policies, the same scapegoats, the same rhetoric, the same donors and the same MPs. Zack Polanski says Greens could be 'kingmakers' in Senedd after election because they are likely to hold balance of powerZack Polanski, the Green party leader, has said that his party could be the “kingmakers” in the Senedd after the election because they are likely to hold the balance of power.Speaking at the launch of his party’s campaign in Wales, Polanski said: double quotation markThe Greens could be the kingmakers at this election. What does that mean? That means we know there will be a new government in Cardiff Bay. What the colour of that government looks like, and the mix is ultimately up to the voters, but we’re being very clear – every single Green that is elected to the Senedd will be a Green in those negotiations. A YouGov MRP poll released last week suggests that Plaid Cymru will be the biggest party in the Senedd after the election (with 43 seats), but that to have a majority (49 seats) it will need the support of either Labour (on 12 seats, the poll predicts) or the Greens (10 seats).These figures seem to imply that a Plaid/Labour deal of some sort would be just as appealing to Plaid as a Plaid/Green deal.But Plaid are closer to the Greens on policy than they are to Labour. Even though Plaid has in the past been in coalition with Labour, and supported Labour in a cooperation deal, there is some acrimony in the relationship. And Plaid are promising “change” after 27-years of Labour-led government since devolution, and governing with Labour would make them look more like a continuity administration.Anthony Slaughter, leader of the Greens in Wales, said Green MSs would be deciding the direction of the next Welsh government and said the party was “already shifting” Plaid Cymru’s position on some policy matters.Left to right: Green Party leader Zack Polanski, Wales Green Party leader Anthony Slaughter and Senedd candidate Tessa Marshall at the launch of the Wales Green Party election campaign at West Canal Wharf in Cardiff. Photograph: Ben Birchall/PATrump tells UK 'you'll have to start learning how to fight for yourself' in taunt over fuel oil shortagesDonald Trump has resumed his taunting of the UK, and Keir Starmer, over Britain’s Iran policy. The president (who regularly says things which are untrue) has just posted this on this Truth Social platform saying the British will “have to start learning how to fight for yourself” because the US won’t be there to help in future.Post from Trump Photograph: Truth SocialStreeting claims deal with BMA to avert resident doctors' strike still possibleWes Streeting, the health secretary, has insisted that a deal with the BMA to avert the resident doctors’s strike in England is still possible. In a post on social media responding to the BMA’s reaction to the PM’s article about the strike (see 9.36am), Streeting said: double quotation markThe BMA seems surprised that if they reject the deal on offer and go on strike their members don’t get what the Government is offering. We have time before Easter weekend to resolve this dispute. A deal on jobs and pay is on the table. Trump 'not dictating policy to me', says FarageAt the end of his press conference Nigel Farage was asked if he was worried that his association with Donald Trump would hurt him electorally.Farage said that he could not pretend not to know Trump. He said he admired some of the things Trump had done, on the border and on energy policy in particular. There were other things Trump had done that he did not agree with, he said, without specifying what. He went on: double quotation markHe is not dictating policy to me. I’m dictating policy to me. Farage said he also thought close links between the UK and the US were “absolutely vital”.Farage says he's opposed to youth mobility deal with EU, claiming it's 'just attempt to completely undo Brexit'Q: [From the Guardian] Would you keep the youth mobility scheme that the government is negotiating with the EU, or would you repeal it?Farage says he does not support the proposals because “this will always be one way traffic”. He says there will be three or four times as many Europeans coming to Britain as Britons going to Europe.There are more exciting parts of the world for young British people to visit, he says. “Europe isn’t actually very sexy any more,” he says.He says the Spanish made a “catastrophic error” by granting an amnesty to migrants in the country illegally. He goes on: double quotation markWe are living in an age of increased global insecurity where national borders and protecting national interests matters more and more. And I think the youth mobility scheme falls at that first hurdle, if at nothing else. And it’s just an attempt by the government to completely undo Brexit. And Jenrick says, instead of letting young European people come to the UK to work, the government should be prioritising finding jobs for British people.Q: Are you worried that Reform UK’s support is mainly coming from older people, not younger people?Farage does not accept this. He claims the polling shows that his party’s support among young people is almost as high as it is amongst voters as a whole. double quotation markAnd by the way, if [Labour] do lower the vote to 16, the Greens will do very well. We will do well and Labour will do terribly. Farage rejects claim election candidate controversies mean Reform UK's vetting procedures flawedQ: Do you think Reform UK’s candidate vetting processes have been inadequate, given that a candidate in Wales has had to stand down after a picture emerged of him giving a Nazi salute?Farage defends the party’s vetting process. double quotation markWe vet people. We ask them to tell us the truth. We asked them for their social media handles. We do all those things. Sometimes people lie to you and they might be using social media handles that you have no way of finding. He says a Plaid Cymru candidate has already stood down, and he predicts the party will have more problems with candidates.This is a problem for all parties. He goes on: double quotation markI think we’re dealing with it as effectively, if not more effectively, than the others. (The questioner did not ask about Scotland, where five Reform candidates have already stood down or been suspended.)Farage says he thinks Keir Starmer has been right to adopt a tough position with the BMA over the proposed resident doctors’ strike. He says: double quotation markUnusually Keir Starmer has taken a strong position. There’s a first time for everything I suppose. 1 of 2NextOldestOldest