Keir Starmer has insisted he wouldn’t have achieved something in a different way in his first 5 months as prime minister, regardless of the federal government’s woes.
However in his first look in entrance of senior MPs on the Home of Commons liaison committee on Thursday, Starmer insisted he had no regrets.
Committee chair Meg Hillier requested him: “Is there something that you’d do in a different way for those who have been beginning out now, understanding what you understand?”
The PM added: “We now have needed to do robust stuff, we’re getting on with it and I’m very happy to be delivering from a place of energy, quite than going across the division lobbies shedding each night time. I’ve had an excessive amount of of that.”
Starmer additionally known as for persistence as the federal government tries to ship its pledge to massively improve financial progress.
The previous few days alone have seen affirmation that inflation goes up once more, whereas GDP shrunk in September and October.
However the prime minister pointed to the rise within the nationwide residing wage, which he mentioned was a “pay rise for the three million who’re the bottom paid”.
“Along with that, the measures that we put in place will enhance residing requirements,” he mentioned. “It is going to take a while, in fact it’s going to.
“One of many largest errors, I feel, within the final 14 years was the concept the whole lot could possibly be mounted by Christmas. It could possibly’t.”
Elsewhere throughout his 90-minute grilling, Starmer additionally admitted he was involved about Donald Trump’s risk to impose tariffs on all overseas imports into the US.
He mentioned: “Am I alive to the hazard of tariffs? Sure in fact. I’m towards tariffs, however I’m not going to take a position as to what the incoming president may do.”
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England will face debutants Wales, France and the Netherlands at Euro 2025 in Switzerland because the Lionesses kick off the defence of their European crown in a tricky group that’s bursting with narrative.
The Lionesses open their match in opposition to France in Zurich on Saturday 5 July earlier than Sarina Wiegman faces her native nation and former group Netherlands on Wednesday 9 July.
England and first-time qualifiers Wales will then meet in a ‘Battle of Britain’ conflict in St Gallen on Sunday 12 July, that might properly have a say in figuring out the end result of a blockbuster Group D.
Rhian Wilkinson’s facet secured their historical past place on the match by beating the Republic of Eire in a play-off and they’ll play their first match in opposition to 2017 winners Netherlands on in Lucerne on 5 July.
Wiegman’s European champions will know they can not afford a sluggish begin to their touranment defence after they start in opposition to France, with solely the highest two groups advancing to the quarter-finals.
It’s the third European in a row through which England have confronted one other residence nation, following a 5-0 victory over Northern Eire at Euro 2022 and a 6-0 win over Scotland at Euro 2017, however Wales – ranked 26 locations behind the Lionesses – will little question relish the chance of dealing with the holders.
The Lionesses have historical past in opposition to France and the Netherlands and have met each rivals extra lately than neighbours Wales. The Lionesses have been pipped to prime spot in Euro 2025 qualifying by Les Bleues, who beat England 2-1 at St James’ Park earlier than shedding the return fixture by the identical scoreline a number of days later in Saint-Etienne.
Former Netherlands boss Wiegman additionally misplaced to her native nation, who she led to Euros glory 5 years earlier than lifting the title with England, in a Nations League conflict in Utrecht in September 2023. The Lionesses claimed a 3-2 comeback victory at Wembley a number of weeks later.
Latest defeats to each groups underlines the issue of England’s group, nonetheless, with England additionally touchdown on the tougher facet of the draw. Ought to they progress to the quarter-finals, the Lionesses would play a group from Group C that features 2022 runners-up Germany, Sweden, Denmark and Poland.
Former Italy captain and Euros winner Leonardo Bonucci drew England’s identify from the hat (Getty Photographs)
Match favourites and world champions Spain are on the opposite facet of the draw and can play Italy, Belgium and Portugal in Group B. Spain might be fancied to progress previous their Group A opponent within the knockout levels ought to they emerge from the group, with hosts Switzerland joined by Iceland, Norway and Finland. Switzerland will play Norway within the opening sport of the match in Basel on 2 July.
In the meantime, Euro 2025 will supply file prize cash of €41m (£34m) as Uefa confirmed a rise of 156 per cent from Euro 2022, however there stays a big hole of virtually €300m between males’s and girls’s European Championships.
The overall prize cash out there to groups at Euro 2022 was €16m, with England taking simply over €2m by profitable the match at Wembley. The prize cash on supply at Euro 2025 might be greater than double what it was three years earlier than, and the champions can win as much as €5.1m when efficiency bonuses are added.
Wiegman received the Euros with the Netherland and England and each groups meet in Group D (The FA through Getty Photographs)
Uefa’s government committee additionally stated groups at Euro 2025 are assured a participation payment of €1.8m – nearly as a lot as England’s winning-bonus from 2022 – with gamers taking a assured reduce of between 30 to 40 per cent in a transfer that mirrors the settlement made forward of the Girls’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand in 2023.
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Sir Keir Starmer is ready to face robust questions over the UK’s defence spending because the prime minister gears as much as meet with European allies at a serious defence summit.
The prime minister will meet with leaders from the ten member states of the Joint Expeditionary Drive (JEF) – a UK-led European defence alliance -in Tallinn on Monday and Tuesday, with defence spending anticipated to be the principle matter of debate.
Simply hours earlier than the summit started, Estonia’s defence minister Hanno Pevkur issued a stark warning to allies that spending 2 per cent of GDP on defence is just not sufficient.
He urged allies to behave instantly to spice up funding, suggesting one attainable technique can be to introduce a safety tax – one thing Estonia will likely be introducing from the brand new 12 months
Sir Keir Starmer stated he was involved in regards to the problem posed by China (Leon Neal/PA) (PA Wire)
Whereas ministers have pledged to spice up UK defence spending from its present level – at simply above 2 per cent – to 2.5 per cent, it isn’t but clear when or how this goal will likely be achieved.
Mr Pevkur stated the subject of defence spending would be the primary matter of debate on the Tallinn summit, telling The Unbiased: “My primary message is that paying 2 per cent of GDP to safe the peace shouldn’t be very a lot”.
“We don’t have time to attend to go as much as 3 per cent and even to 2.5 per cent. We have to do it instantly. We needed to enhance our taxes, so we’re introducing a safety tax right here in Estonia from January subsequent 12 months”.
He added: “We urge the opposite international locations to do the identical, we urge different international locations to spice up their defence spendings.”
Quite a few Nato member states don’t but meet the two per cent of GDP threshold for defence spending. In the meantime, there are additionally issues over the failure of Sir Keir to specify a timescale in relation to his pledge to extend UK spending to 2.5 per cent.
Whereas Mr Pevkur acknowledged that it’s “as much as ach nation how they discover their greatest choice to safe funds for defence”, he stated he will likely be very clear on the summit that “2 per cent shouldn’t be sufficient, it must be no less than be 5 per cent”.
Estonia is on observe to spend 3.4 per cent of its GDP on defence in 2024. The nation is seeking to enhance this to three.7 per cent by 2026, Mr Pevkur stated.
However he insisted it’s not nearly arbitrary targets, explaining: “When any individual can inform you at the moment that they will fulfil these drive necessities with 2 per cent – excellent, I’ve no downside with that. However after we see that to fulfil these necessities you want to make investments extra, then you must make choices in politics.”
It comes amid rising concern over Britain’s preparedness for a battle and the state of its armed forces.
Hanno Pevkur speaks about European safety forward of the JEF summit in Tallinn (Millie Cooke)
In the meantime, writing in The Unbiased, Sir Richard Shirreff – who served as Nato’s deputy supreme allied commander in Europe from 2011 to 2014 – stated one other international battle will solely be prevented if there’s a “band of deterrent metal from the Baltic to the Black Sea” – one thing he stated the UK might need to be ready to assist realise with out the assist of Washington.
His dramatic intervention got here alongside warnings from former defence secretary Ben Wallace and Labour peer Admiral Lord West {that a} failure to prioritise defence can be a grave error for the prime minister.
There may be rising concern in regards to the energy of president-elect Donald Trump’s dedication to Nato, following repeated threats to tug out of the alliance if member states don’t spend extra on defence.
Sir Richard warned that Britain could make “no assumptions that Trump would honour Nato’s doctrine of collective defence”, including: “If we’re to discourage a 3rd world conflict, Europe should step on top of things.”
The Ministry of Defence has been contacted for remark.
Keir Starmer now has some tough selections to make after the autumn of the Syrian regime.
Syrian rebels have overturned the authoritarian management of Bashar al-Assad in lower than two weeks after 50 years of oppressive rule.
The prime minister stated on Sunday that the UK welcomes the autumn of the “barbaric regime” within the Center Jap nation.
The UK will not be straight concerned in Syria as parliament voted in opposition to army motion within the war-torn nation in 2013.
However, it stays unclear how the UK – and the broader west – will grapple with a brand new regime in Syria on the subject of diplomacy.
Listed below are simply three issues which the federal government might need to take care of within the coming months as Syrian rebels attempt to fill the ability vacuum.
1. Will Labour take away the main insurgent power in Syria from the proscribed terrorist listing?
The Syrian power which led the rebel in opposition to Assad, Hayat Tahir al Sham (HTS), is presently thought of an alternate title for al Qaeda on the UK’s listing of banned terrorist organisations.
Which means the UK couldn’t negotiate with the group until it was faraway from the proscription listing.
HTS’s founder Abu Muhammed al Jolani lower ties with al Qaeda in 2016.
He has tried to current the group as a extra average power and stated he had no intention of waging battle in opposition to the West in 2021.
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Pat McFadden advised Sky Information this morning that the federal government will now “contemplate” eradicating HTS from the listing of terrorist teams.
He stated: “I feel it’s going to partly rely on what occurs by way of how that group behaves now.
“I feel nations all over the world who proscribe HTS – It’s not simply the UK, america, European nations as nicely – I feel most likely will take a look at that now, and see what’s going to occur sooner or later.
“It gained’t take that lengthy. I feel we have to do it shortly.”
2. What occurs if Syria’s First Woman, a British passport holder, tries to come back to the UK?
Assad’s spouse, Asma al-Assad, was born and raised in London – that means she has a British passport.
She married Assad the identical 12 months he took management of Syria after his authoritarian father Hafez al-Assad died.
The couple now have three kids collectively, and there’s no suggestion (outdoors of the Syrian chief himself) that his household have been concerned in any wrongdoing.
Their household is believed to have fled to Russia, however the Syrian First Woman’s connection to Britain means she may attempt to relocate right here.
Her household aren’t coated by UK sanctions though her mother and father and brothers are named in wider US sanctions.
Requested on LBC, McFadden claimed there’s been no “contact or no request” for Asma to return to the UK.
“The household are in Russia so far as we all know, that’s what Russian state media have stated,” he stated.
“We’ve definitely had no contact or no request for Mr Assad’s spouse to come back to the UK.
“I couldn’t touch upon her particular person rights.
“I don’t know her precise circumstances, so I don’t know what would occur in these circumstances, nevertheless it’s not one thing that’s been raised with us.”
Pressed on what would occur if she may attempt to come to the UK, he stated: “From the viewpoint of the UK authorities, our foremost concern for the time being is what the long run is, whether or not the rights of residents and minorities are protected and whether or not stability can come to a rustic that has had a lot violence and battle over the previous 15 years.”
She was found by the British press in 2019, when she was pregnant along with her third baby, whom she wished to boost within the UK. Her two older kids had already died at this level.
Though she requested for forgiveness from the UK, and stated she nonetheless supported “some British values”, she was stripped of her British citizenship by then residence secretary Sajid Javid in 2019.
The Tory authorities argued she nonetheless held Bangladeshi citizenship by way of her mother and father and so it was lawful to take away her British hyperlinks.
She has been dwelling in a refugee camp in northern Syria since though her legal professionals have repeatedly tried to contest this declare so Begum can return to the UK.
When requested if Begum may now return to the UK this morning, McFadden identified that the insurgent teams which management the north of Syria are totally different to those which seized the capital.
It’s tough to say for the time being what is going to occur to these camps,” he stated, however added the federal government has “no plans” to convey Begum again “proper now”.
From reproductive rights to local weather change to Massive Tech, The Impartial is on the bottom when the story is growing. Whether or not it is investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our newest documentary, ‘The A Phrase’, which shines a light-weight on the American ladies preventing for reproductive rights, we all know how necessary it’s to parse out the info from the messaging.
At such a crucial second in US historical past, we want reporters on the bottom. Your donation permits us to maintain sending journalists to talk to either side of the story.
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Your assist makes all of the distinction.
Julien Guerrier takes a one-shot lead into the weekend on the Nedbank Golf Problem after producing a sensational 68 in sturdy winds on day two.
The Frenchman carded eight birdies and 4 bogeys to succeed in 5 underneath par, with a hole-out birdie from a bunker on the eighth one in all many highlights from a topsy-turvy spherical.
With Gary Participant Nation Membership exhibiting its tooth on Friday, the main rating after 36 holes was one shot worse than Max Homa’s 18-hole tally of six underneath.
Defending champion Homa had led for a lot of the day earlier than back-to-back double bogeys on the sixteenth and seventeenth noticed his two-shot benefit go up in smoke.
Guerrier’s par save on the 18th left him one shot higher off than countryman Romain Langasque and residential favorite Ockie Strydom.
“Initially, it’s a privilege to attain underneath par in robust circumstances like that,” stated Guerrier. “I’m very happy I made loads of birdies.
“It was troublesome to remain affected person, you will make some errors, everyone does.
“That is troublesome as a result of you’ll be able to hit some actually good pictures, like me on 17 however then you definately go into the water, simply the incorrect gust on the incorrect second, however that’s a part of this golf course.”
I believe it’s tougher to be physique assured at 30 than it’s at 50
At 50, it’s an inside job since you cease pondering ‘I’ve acquired to be excellent’ or ‘I’ve acquired to appear to be one thing else.’ As an alternative, you similar to your self a bit extra warts and all, and know who you might be. Whenever you’re a bit extra accepting of your self as an individual and of what you’re good at or not nearly as good at, that seeps out, and you’ll have a look at your self and assume ‘I do know I’m not excellent, however I like myself. I’m okay.’
Be sure you encompass your self with hype girls. I’m fortunate to have a very nice group of pals and we simply large one another up on a regular basis
I’ve acquired my gang of hype girls as a result of life’s powerful sufficient on the skin, you don’t want people who find themselves going to make you are feeling awkward about your self round you. And likewise actually watch folks’s faces once you inform them some excellent news about your self. Encompass your self with people who find themselves blissful so that you can achieve success.
Having a fringe is absolutely useful for protecting my crepey brow
Once I did botox previously, I ended wanting like me a bit. The one little bit of botox I do like, is on frown traces between my eyebrows. I haven’t acquired it in the mean time, however after I did, I preferred it as a result of I may nonetheless categorical myself and look irritated or unhappy, I simply didn’t look cross. Shedding anger traces may be very completely different from shedding laughter traces although, and if I haven’t acquired my laughter traces, I simply don’t really feel like I appear to be myself. It’s comparable with my large nostril: I’ve acquired a giant nostril, however I like my large nostril, and I wouldn’t change it for the world. However that wasn’t all the time the case; I acquired known as one thing on twitter as soon as and it bothered me. Now I’m so glad I didn’t change it. It worries me typically after I see folks making large beauty choices fairly younger as a result of I believe they may simply develop into it, and into liking no matter they’re altering.
Garnier
I attempted to do as a lot cardio and HIIT as potential after I was youthful, however now it’s all about weights
Folks all the time assume I work out for hours at a time, however I really train 3-4 days per week, for a most of an hour, however normally 45 minutes. I don’t do any HIIT or something the place you’re making an attempt to do as many reps as potential as a result of I get so aggressive with myself that I don’t take into consideration type sufficient and I really want to consider type. I like power coaching. I attempt to do half an hour of working, which I can do wherever, after which I’ll do 20 minutes of power coaching. I usually put on a weighted vest for squats, lunges, and leap lunges, and take weighted gloves in all places to enhance my grip power. Bands are additionally a extremely good technique to up the ante on any work out, they usually’re so mild that I can simply pop them within the suitcase if travelling. I’ll simply go on my on-line health platform, Personal Your Targets, and put in what gear I’ve and the way lengthy I wish to work out for and comply with that.
It’s onerous consuming sufficient protein after 45
I’m actually consuming greater than I most likely want to to take care of muscle as a result of it’s so onerous to eat sufficient protein after 45 to take care of muscle power. Everybody’s very anti protein shakes in the mean time, however at my age, it’s important to get sufficient protein and it actually helps me on that entrance. I’ll additionally add collagen powder to my tea day by day and have taken the Historical + Courageous True Collagen (£29.99, ancientandbrave.earth) one without end, their packaging is completely stunning and the product wonderful. At evening, I take Magnesium Glycinate, which my daughter, who’s a dietician, beneficial. I additionally take vitamin D3 for my immune system. Primarily, although, I wish to get as many vitamins as I can by means of my meals. The very best factor to make you higher is meals, so I eat actually healthily. I attempt to not eat refined sugar, I attempt to not eat white something, I eat numerous sourdough and fermented meals, and I eat little or no pasta or stodge – I’d relatively eat a loaded salad than a sandwich as I can get numerous selection from a salad. I additionally love having two coffees within the morning by Grind – I’ve their espresso pot, and I take advantage of their decomposable espresso pods. Michael [Davina’s boyfriend] and I’ll go and sit exterior with our espresso if it’s the weekend, come rain or shine. We sit underneath the lined space and watch the rain and drink our espresso.
Historical + Courageous
As I’ve gotten older, I’ve finished much less and fewer to my pores and skin
I don’t do face masks, no lights, no purple lights, no facials. I like a sauna, and one in every of my greatest pals has promised me that subsequent yr she’s going to show me to chilly water swim. We’re going to begin in January. However general I’m so low upkeep I simply have my staples. One is the Garnier Micellar Cleaning Water All-in-1 (£9.99, boots.com), which I’ve used for many years. I’ve additionally stayed devoted to the Garnier Vitamin C Every day UV Brightening Fluid Glow SPF50+ (£12.99, garnier.com) which is really easy to make use of. I typically have a look at youthful girls spending an hour doing all these things with all these lotions and assume ‘what are you doing?’. Then in the event that they get spots or irritated pores and skin, they attempt to resolve by shopping for yet one more product they’ve seen on TikTok. I simply assume do much less and fewer and also you get an increasing number of with regards to pores and skin.
I’m not excellent at being mellow
I like doing stuff and being lively or socialising. I assume my day by day tub is the closest I get to it, and if I’m in a lodge and I don’t have a shower, I don’t know what to do with myself, tips on how to chill. I all the time put Badedas (£4, boots.com) in my tub. It seems like nuclear waste, and I don’t know what’s in it – however the scent is so harking back to my childhood and it makes me really feel at residence.
Garnier
One other scent I’m dedicated to is Escentric Molecules Molecule 01 (£115, cultbeauty.co.uk), which is wonderful. I’ve been sporting it for years, and I’ll get right into a carry and somebody will say ‘you scent good.’ Folks actually cease me on the street to ask about it. Generally I’ll additionally put on Michael’s scent on my wrist, so if I take into consideration Michael I scent my wrists, and I’m effective.
The most important problem after I acquired to peri-menopause was understanding what it was
I used to be having occasional evening sweats alongside a low temper and flatness and anger. I might get offended with the youngsters and I might shout and assume ‘what are you doing? You by no means shout’ after which cry and apologise. It wasn’t taking place day by day nevertheless it was sufficient for me to get very scared. I didn’t perceive what was occurring and my mind went to mush. I misplaced three years of my life wandering in no man’s land. I questioned the place my pleasure had gone. At that time, I believed if somebody advised me to take HRT I’d get breast most cancers, I believed that was an absolute lifeless cert. I went and did plenty of due diligence, and skim loads and met some consultants earlier than realising that wasn’t the case. My new revised version of Menopausing covers all this and there’s loads on most cancers, too, as a result of I realised girls with most cancers are screaming out for assist through the menopause.
The expanded event takes form this week because the 32 groups are drawn into teams forward of subsequent summer time inaugural version.
United States will host the month-long event, which is able to characteristic groups from all six confederations.
For the draw, the groups have been cut up into 4 pots of eight groups, with rankings based mostly on performances in every continent’s top-tier competitors throughout the earlier 4 seasons.
For instance, European groups shall be judged on their Champions League performances and CONMEBOL groups on their Copa Libertadores shows
Pot 1 consists of the very best European and South American groups, Pot 2 is the remaining European groups, Pot 3 is the 2 greatest from the remaining confederations and Pot 4 is the rest and the only Oceania Soccer Confederation consultant.
The draw will create 4 teams of eight groups, with no group in a position to characteristic a couple of group from the identical confederation aside from UEFA and golf equipment from the identical member affiliation can’t be paired collectively.
Chelsea have discovered themselves prime of Pot 2, which means they may get one in every of Actual Madrid, Bayern Munich or Paris Saint-Germain. Manchester Metropolis, in the meantime will get one in every of Borussia Dortmund, Inter Milan, Juventus, Atletico Madrid, Porto, Benfica or FC Salzburg.
2025 Membership World Cup draw pots confirmed
Pot 1: Manchester Metropolis, Actual Madrid, Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain, Flamengo, Palmeiras, River Plate, Fluminense
Pot 2: Chelsea, Borussia Dortmund, Inter Milan,Porto, Atletico Madrid, Benfica, Juventus, FC Salzburg
Pot 3: Al Hilal, Ulsan HD, Al Ahly, Wydad AC, Monterrey, Membership Leon, Boca Juniors, Botafogo
Pot 4: Urawa Purple Diamonds, Al Ain, Esperance de Tunis, Mamelodi Sundowns, Pachuca, Seattle Sounders, Auckland Metropolis, Inter Miami
The draw for the 2025 Membership World Cup takes place on Thursday, December 5, 2024 at 6pm UK time. You’ll be able to observe the entire draw with Customary Sport’s devoted LIVE weblog.
