The Prime Minister’s spokesman has said he rejects Sir Olly Robbins’ assertion that Downing Street had had a “dismissive attitude” towards Lord Mandelson’s vetting clearance.
Asked by reporters, the spokesperson said “No, I reject that characterisation”.
The former top civil servant in FCDO said when he entered the Foreign Office he was briefed that the Cabinet Office had taken the position that there was “no need to vet Mandelson” because he was in the Lords & a member of the Privy council.
Sir Olly Robbins says he felt there was a “generally dismissive attitude” to Mandelson’s vetting from No 10 and the FCDO was “under constant pressure” to complete the process.
It’s expected many leaders will dial in remotely. Sir Keir Starmer & Pres Macron will be there in person.
Macron previously said the summit would discuss a “strictly defensive mission, separate from the warring parties to the conflict” with the goal of “restoring freedom of navigation”.
BREAK: The Prime Minister & President Macron will co-host a summit in Paris this Friday to discuss the Strait of Hormuz
Downing St Spokesperson said: “The summit will advance work towards a coordinated, independent, multinational plan to safeguard international shipping once the conflict ends.”
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The Defence Secretary has said three Russian submarines carried out a "covert" operation in the Atlantic lasting longer than a month.
John Healey said he deployed a warship & aircraft in response to monitor the vessels. There is "no evidence" of any damage to UK infrastructure in the Atlantic.
Overnight: Donald Trump has said he agrees to a proposed two-week ceasefire between the US and Iran if shipping is allowed to move through the Strait of Hormuz
Sir Keir Starmer has welcomed the ceasefire agreed overnight and announced that he is travelling to the Gulf today.
The Prime Minister will meet “regional leaders” on his visit. He said the UK would “do all we can to support and sustain this ceasefire”.
The Conservative Party called on the government to refuse West a visa, arguing that "allowing someone with his track record to headline a major public event sends entirely the wrong message".
The government is reviewing if West should be allowed to enter the UK.
Phil Rosenberg, president of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, said that the Wireless boss's statement "will not reassure many within the Jewish or other communities".
Yesterday, Wireless Festival managing director defended the decision to choose Kanye West as a headliner, encouraging people to offer the rapper "forgiveness".
Wes Streeting tells BBC Breakfast Kanye West should not be allowed to perform at Wireless Festival and its organisers have committed a “terrible error of judgment”.
Downing Street has welcomed Donald Trump’s announcement.
A Downing Street spokesperson said “any reports of productive talks are welcome. We have always said a swift resolution to the war is in the global interest and the Strait of Hormuz specifically needs to be re-opened”.
NEW: President Trump has said the US and Iran have had "very good and productive" talks in recent days "regarding a complete and total resolution of our hostilities".
Trump says the US will "postpone any and all military strikes" on Iranian power plants for a five day period
The Prime Minister has said he is "asking for every lever that's available to the Government to deal with the cost of living to be discussed at Cobra" this afternoon.
Sir Keir Starmer said his government is "doing everything we possibly can" to tackle the cost of living.
Labour MPs opposed to the government's immigration reforms are threatening to expose the party's divisions by forcing a symbolic vote in Parliament unless ministers back down.
Story by Iain Watson
The first wave of files related to the appointment of Lord Mandelson as British Ambassador to the US will be published today
We expect Chief Secretary to the PM to make a statement in the Commons after PMQs
Further sets of files will be published - today is only the start
The PM said he understood people's anxiety and that his government was "assessing the risks, monitoring and talking to our international partners" about reducing the "impact on people here".
Sir Keir Starmer has warned the longer the Iran conflict lasts, the more likely it is that there will be an effect on the economy.
The men, aged 39, 43 and 68, were arrested in London and Wales as part of a counter-terrorism policing investigation under the National Security Act, the Metropolitan Police said in a statement.
The BBC has been told the partner of a Labour MP has been arrested on suspicion of spying for China
MORE: The President went on to say: "The UK has been very, very uncooperative with that stupid island [Diego Garcia] they have"
President Trump went on to criticise the UK's policies on energy and immigration
President Trump has told reporters he is "not happy with the UK".
Speaking in the Oval Office the President said: "This is not Winston Churchill that we're dealing with."
