Early evening summary
Boris Johnson has escalated his criticism of Rishi Sunak’s approach to the Northern Ireland protocol, saying that the “best way forward” would be to carry on with the legislation drafted under his leadership that would allow the government to just ignore the protocol. (See 5.38pm.)
Keir Starmer has defended dropping key pledges made during his Labour leadership bid, saying they have been adapted in the face of unprecedented global events.
Updated
Here is my colleague John Crace’s sketch on Keir Starmer’s speech today.
And here is an extract.
When he first became leader, Starmer had a well-deserved reputation for being a wooden performer. Someone who wasn’t entirely sure he believed in what he was saying, being forced out of his natural habitat into a public arena. He looked sweaty. Nervous. As if he had something to hide.
Now, though, Starmer seems to relish the TV cameras. Comes alive on the big occasions. He’s grown into the job. He’s seen off Boris Johnson and Liz Truss. And Sunak has given him no reason to believe he can’t see him off as well.
Not that Keir will ever be a total natural as an orator. He will never have the evangelical power of a Gordon Brown. But he’s found the self-belief and the confidence. He’s more than good enough as he is. The country doesn’t want a snake oil salesman offering shares in a promised land. We’ve given up on the all-too-fallible Tory Messiahs. Our sights are lowered. We now want someone decent and competent. Someone who looks as if he knows what he’s doing and can be more or less trusted. And Starmer knows he can deliver that.
