Politics latest: 'Elephant in the room' at Starmer's first NATO summit - as allies stress support for Ukraine (2024)

We've heard a little more from Downing Street about the prime minister's plan to give Joe Biden a little gift later.

The pair have already met at the NATO summit in Washington, but will hold more formal talks at the White House later.

We reported earlier that Sir Keir Starmer would be gifting the US president his own personalised Arsenal shirt - the Premier League team the prime minister supports.

We now know it'll be adorned with Mr Biden's surname and 46 - a reference to his presidential number.

The Labour leader is an Arsenal season ticket holder, and he hopes the present will help strengthen what he called the "very special relationship" between the UK and US.

A senior Downing Street official said: "It's his team and he thought it would make a personal gift."

The PM will also give the US leader a copy of the Atlantic Charter which paved the way for the formation of NATO, complete with then Labour leader Clement Attlee's amendments.

Hopefully we get pictures later - especially of the shirt...

The NATO summit in Washington has been our focus evening.

Sir Keir Starmer is there as part of his first foreign trip as prime minister.

Here are some of the key moments still to come today for the PM:

• Watching through to the bitter end as England take on the Netherlands at the Euros with Dutch PM Dick Schoof;
  
• Meeting US House Speaker Mike Johnson;
• Holding talks with Joe Biden in the Oval Office;
• And enjoying a NATO leaders dinner at the White House, which his wife Victoria is also expected to attend.

We reported earlier on former Labour MP Jonathan Ashworth calling for his replacement - independent Shockat Adam - to explain his "dealings" with a man known as Majid Novsarka, or Majid Freeman.

Novsarka is facing allegations of encouragement of terrorism and supporting a proscribed organisation.

We've now heard back from Mr Adam.

A spokesperson said: "Shockat was elected by a diverse coalition of voters in Leicester South.

"He is focused on delivering for his constituents, and will not be distracted by sour grapes from a beaten rival whose divisive politics were resoundingly rejected at the ballot box."

Novsarka was a staunch advocate of Mr Adam, and Mr Adam at one pointtweeted a video of Novsarka questioning Mr Ashworth on the campaign trail over his position on the war in Gaza, writing: "Politics is all about answering difficult questions - if you can't stand the heat..."

There is no suggestion of a direct relationship between Mr Adam and Novsarka.

You can read the full article here:

While we've had much of our attention taken up by the NATO summit, earlier today parliament finished swearing in all 650 MPs.

As is tradition after a new election, all the new members elected have gathered for a picture in the House of Commons.

This year is an especially large cohort, with 335 - more than half the Commons - being newly elected.

Among the new entries are Reform leader Nigel Farage, and Liberal Democrat Steve Darling with his guide dog Jennie.

See if you can spot them below:

Lisa Nandy, the new culture secretary, has quite the buddy to watch tonight's England match with.

The Three Lions are looking to book their place in the final of the Euros, and are up against the Netherlands.

Ms Nandy appears to be cheering them on alongside Ed Sheeran.

She looks very excited.

Her boss, Prime Minister Keir Starmer, is said to be watching it alongside his Dutch counterpart at the NATO summit in Washington.

If you're not watching the game, or just want some extra analysis and observations while you do, why not check out our dedicated live blog below:

The show will be back tomorrow from 7pm.

In the meantime, stick with us here for the latest updates and analysis from the NATO summit in Washington - and any other political news that catches our eye from closer to home.

The latest NATO summit in Washington is well under way, and one of the most striking elements is Sir Keir Starmer's debut on the world stage.

He's met with world leaders including Joe Biden, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and Olaf Scholz - the first of whom welcomed him to the stage before alliance leaders posed for their traditional group photo.

You can watch that moment below:

James Heappey, who stood down at the election last week, is asked bySophy Ridgeabout the future of the Conservative Party.

Could they hope to make a comeback, and again send a Tory prime minister off to a NATO summit?

Mr Heappey criticises the fight being had on social media between Kemi Badenoch and Suella Braverman - who are both expected to run to replace Rishi Sunak.

Asked who he wanted to see run, Mr Heappey said Tom Tugendhat and Victoria Atkins - both at the centre of the party.

He also mentions James Cleverly and Robert Jenrick as candidates he may support. Both of these men are fairly centrist Tories, although Mr Jenrick seems to have tacked right since working in the Home Office.

Mr Heappey says the party should look to occupy the political ground between the Lib Dems and Reform, as that is where the public is.

"If we go off and have an ideological wrestle with Farage, it would be an enormous mistake and would keep us out of power for 10, 15 years."

You can read more about Ms Braverman and Ms Badenoch's spat below:

James Heappey, the former Conservative defence minister, is speaking to Sophy Ridge about the PM's visit to NATO.

He says it is great to see hum so well met in the US - and it's a reminder party politics in the UK is "rather temporary", with whoever's leading the country always welcomed well abroad.

But Mr Heappey says he is "disappointed" the announcement of when 2.5% of GDP will be spent on the armed forces was not made.

The government has committed to doing so when the economic conditions allow, whereas the Tories had set more of a timescale.

With Donald Trump potentially returning to the White House, someone who was a regular critic of how much more the US spent on defence compared to NATO allies, Mr Heappey says it's especially important that Labour increase spending.

By increasing its spend to 2.5% and trying to take others with it, the UK will lead from the front on that issue, the former minister says.

He says the extra money is needed to return the UK's armed forces "back to match fitness" for "war fighting" rather than the counterinsurgency work that has been done in recent times.

Analysis: Can NATO become Trump-proof?

Following Mr Heappey's comments,US correspondent Mark Stonesays NATO members are keen to make the alliance effectively "Trump-proof".

There are concerns that should the former president return, aid for Ukraine may come to an end.

The prospect is something of an "elephant in the room" at the summit, where everyone is "looking over Biden's shoulder".

Some think Trump would be a "complete disaster", but others think there's just lots of "bluff and bluster" - and point to the fact his threats to leave the 75-year-old alliance last time around did in fact lead to members increasing spending.