Afternoon summary
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Keir Starmer has said he will campaign for Andy Burnham in the Makefield byelection. (See 4.32pm.)
For a full list of all the stories covered on the blog today, do scroll through the list of key event headlines near the top of the blog.
The new EHRC guidance on single-sex spaces (see 4.42pm) says;
In separate or single-sex services, a trans man will be excluded from the men-only service because his sex is female, and a trans woman will be excluded from the women-only service because her sex is male.
But it also says:
In the case of services which are necessary for everybody, such as toilets, it is very unlikely to be proportionate to put a trans person in a position where there is no service that they are allowed to use.
If the service provider does not act proportionately, this is very likely to amount to direct or indirect discrimination because of gender reassignment.
Green party re-opens nominations in Makerfield after candidate withdraws for 'personal and family reasons'
Chris Kennedy, who was chosen by the Green party as their candidate in Makerfield last night (see 2.07pm), is withdrawing “for personal and family reasons”, the party has said.
A Green spokesperson said:
We wish Chris the best and understand that family has to come first.
As a party, we are re-opening nominations now because we believe people in Makerfield deserve a real choice at this byelection, and the Green party will be standing to offer exactly that.
Across the country, more and more voters are turning away from the old parties and looking for politicians who will genuinely stand up for their communities. We will also be redoubling our efforts on campaigning to expose the risk of Reform, a party who seeks to divide our communities.
Government publishes long-awaited updated EHRC guidance on single-sex spaces
The government has now published the long-awaited guidance on single-sex spaces and complying with the Equality Act. The Equality and Human Rights Commission’s (EHRC) had to update the guidance after the supreme court ruling saying that the term “sex” in the Equality Act refers to biological sex, not gender. The updated code of conduct, described as a draft, is here.
The Office for Equality and Opportunity says:
The draft Code is an important supplement to ensure organisations across Great Britain have clear and workable guidance on its implementation, to protect people’s rights across our country. It covers all 9 protected characteristics in the Equality Act 2010.
The EHRC updates to the Code reflect changes in the law since 2011, including the supreme court clarification on the definition of sex for the purposes of the Equality Act 2010. Other changes include:
-new protections for women whose menopause has a significant impact on their everyday life
-updates to reflect legislative changes on same-sex marriage
-clarification that women who breastfeed are also protected from harassment
Andy Burnham has welcomed the news that Keir Starmer will campaign for him in Makerfield. A spokesperson for the Greater Manchester mayor said:
Anyone who wants to embrace Andy’s campaign message is welcome on the campaign.
Starmer says he will campaign for Burnham in Makerfield byelection
Keir Starmer has said that he will campaign for Andy Burnham in the Makerfield byelection.
Speaking to reporters at an event this afternoon, Starmer was asked if he would campaign personally in the contest. He replied:
Yes, and I’ve said to the whole Labour movement that I want everybody to be involved in the campaign, whatever other discussions are going on, it’s really important – that’s a straight fight between Labour and Reform.
It’s about the values that we take into politics, and it’s really important that we all pull together and fight in that byelection, as we will do.
This answer is more notable than a normal declaration from a party leader saying they would campaign for their candidate would be because it is widely assumed that, if Burnham wins, it won’t be long before he replaces Starmer as PM.
Referring to the measures announced by Rachel Reeves today, Starmer said the government had “a very good story to tell”. And that “has only been possible because of the steps we took on the budget”, he said.
Foreign-born people now account for almost one in five of UK population, highest share ever, latest figures show
The Migration Observatory, an Oxford University research body, has published its analysis of today’s migration figures. The ONS report includes new estimates for the non-UK-born population, and the Migration Observatory says this figure is now at is highest level ever.
It says:
Net migration fell to 171,000 in 2025, a decline of 82% since the early 2023 peak, asylum claims have fallen by 12% year-on-year, with a fall in small boat arrivals and claims by people who arrived with visas, while the number of migrants in hotels is also down by 32% since December 2025.
The sharp decline in net migration results largely from policy choices taken by the previous government, which liberalised and then restricted migration, leading to a record high followed by a record fall and corresponding increase in emigration. Asylum-related arrivals also fell for the first time since mid-2024 though remained high by historical standards. New estimates released today show that the total foreign-born population increased by 2.4 million since the last census and now makes up 19% of the population (up from 16%).
The decline in immigration since 2023 results primarily from lower non-EU migration for work (down 69% since 2023) and family members of international students (down 87%). Restrictions on both routes came in under the previous government. The current government added further restrictions, most notably to work visas and the partners and children of refugees.
Ben Brindle, a researcher at the Migration Observatory, said: “The sharp increase in net migration after the pandemic has pushed the foreign-born to its highest ever share of the UK population.”
Emily Thornberry accuses government of 'evasive and waffly' response to report saying its EU reset policy vague
Lisa O’Carroll is a senior Guardian correspondent covering trade and post-Brexit issues.
The government has been criticised for give “evasive” and “disappointing” replies to a report which said Keir Starmer’s UK-EU reset lacking in definition and drive.
The foreign affairs committee said the government’s response to the report offered “truly thin gruel” which only served to reinforce the points the committee was making in its original report in March.
When select committees publish reports, the government always has to give a formal response. Its reply to the March report is out today.
Commenting on what it said, Emily Thornberry, the Labour chair of the committee, said:
Given that the prime minister has promised to place ‘Britain at the heart of Europe’, I was surprised to see just how little effort the government has made in responding to our report on the UK-EU relationship,
Today’s response falls far below the standard parliament expects from government. It fails to engage in any meaningful way with the foreign affairs committee’s recommendations. It is frequently evasive and waffly rather than what we hoped would be thoughtful and substantial policy.
This is truly thin gruel and only serves to reinforce my committee’s conclusions in our report: the government has no clear strategic priorities nor vision for its UK-EU reset, which given it is central to government policy, is very disappointing.
Thornberry said government’s engagement was a vital part of the democratic scrutiny and the committee had hoped it would pick up on key recommendations including the need for an EU white paper and a dedicated committee for scrutiny of EU affairs.
When the UK was in the EU, the Commons had a European scrutiny committee. After 2016 it focused on Brexit issues, but it was scrapped after the UK left the EU in 2020.
Bryant says there was 'absolutely nothing' in Andrew documents to suggest ministers knew of his friendship with Epstein
Speaking for the Liberal Democrats, Wendy Chamberlain says Andrew was not vetted. (See 1.34pm.) And she said the lack of documentation in relation to this appointment is “concerning”.
The documents we do have clearly show concerns about the potential for conflicts of interest. It started with golf, but we all know what came next. And why did that not lead to any scrutiny or vetting?
She asks specifically if ministers and officials were aware of Andrew’s relationship with Jeffrey Epstein.
Bryant says he thought the police might object to the publication of some material, in the light of the investigation. But the police were very cooperative, and did not object to anything being published, he says.
On vetting, he says:
It has been standard not to vet members of the royal family.
He says he does not think there are plans to appoint a member of the royal family to a trade envoy job in future. He says the king supports the government on visits, and his state visit to the US was a great success. He goes on:
I don’t think we should be vetting his majesty the king, and I don’t think [Chamberlain] is suggesting that either.
Bryant forgots to address the Epstein question, but in response to a later question he remembers the omission and tells Chamberlain he found “absolutely nothing” to suggest ministers were aware of this.
Updated
Bryant says late queen was 'very keen' for Andrew to be given job by government
Baldwin asked if ministers at the time had any concerns about Andrew being appointed a trade envoy.
Bryant replied:
I have published everything that it relates to that period. There’s nothing else, I think, to be found.
The statements that say that ministers were content, I think is, is the sum total of the response.
And I suppose to some degree that is understandable, bearing in mind that the Palace have made it very clear that Her Majesty, her late Majesty, was very keen that Andrew be given a job, and Andrew was keen to take on the job, and the job had previously been done by another member of the royal family.
Updated
Harriett Baldwin, Bryant’s Tory shadow, asks if there are any more papers to be published.
Bryant says he thinks all the relevant documents have been published. But if any more documents are found, they will be released too.
Bryant says he was due to give a longer statment. But he said he kept his opening remarks short because it is late in the day for a statement. He says the longer version was much the same as the written statement he released this morning.
Trade minister Chris Bryant gives statement to MPs about release of Andrew trade envoy documents
Chris Bryant, the trade minister, is making a statement to MPs now about the release of documents about Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s appointment as trade envoy in 2001.
He says getting the material was hard. Some departments have changed. And the government had to avoid publishing anything that might interfer with the police investigation. He goes on:
I’m glad to say that we have published 11 documents today, including the formal appointment proposal, evidence that ministers were content with the proposal, internal communications, media and press briefings. These documents speak for themselves, of course, and all honourable members can read them.
Updated
UK summons Israel’s chargé d’affaires over video of minister taunting activists
The UK has summoned Israel’s chargé d’affaires as international outrage escalates over a video posted by the national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, in which he is seen taunting activists detained after a Gaza-bound flotilla was intercepted. Peter Beaumont has the story.
Polanski defends Greens fielding byelection candidate against Burnham, saying 'in democracy people must have choice'
Zack Polanski, the Green party leader, has said that the prospect of a Reform UK victory is the “greatest threat” in the Makerfield byelection.
He spoke out as the Greens announced the name of their candidate in the contest – and Polanski defended the party’s decision to reject calls for the Greens to stand aside to help Labour’s Andy Burnham.
Polanski said Chris Kennedy, a registered nurse and child safeguarding specialist who is from the Wigan area (Makerfield is a constituency on the outskirts of Wigan), would be a “fantastic candidate”.
Polanski went on:
This election is about who is making the case for lower bills, warmer and more affordable homes and a greener and fairer economy. In a democracy, people must have the choice to vote for the candidate of their choice.
As Peter Walker reported earlier this week, the Green party has been split on how hard to fight the byelection. Caroline Lucas and Adrian Ramsay, both former party leaders, have suggested that, given Burnham’s commitment to electoral reform (see 1.37pm), the party should not go all-out to prevent his election. Others in the party wanted the Greens to campaign for a win aggressively.
While the party has ruled out not fielding a candidate, it remains to be seen how much effort the party will put into trying to win. In an article in the Financial Times today, Anna Gross says senior figures in the party do not want to allocate significant resources to the byelection. She says:
Several party members, conscious the Greens have limited support in the constituency in north-west England, are wary of being blamed for splitting the progressive vote and allowing Nigel Farage’s Reform UK to win, according to people involved in discussions.
“We do not want this one to go to Reform, and to be quite frank, we do not want Labour to be able to turn around and say ‘if you vote Green, you’re actually voting Reform’ because that will be used for the next three years,” a senior party figure said.
In his statement this morning marking Kennedy’s selection as the candidate, Polanski said:
The greatest threat in this byelection is the Reform party, which, while presenting itself as a change to the status quo, is just more of the same and worse. It is in hock to corporate interests and seeks to divide our communities rather than uniting them.
We have shown we can take votes from Reform in a way Labour just can’t. We know there are many voters fed up with the status quo who will only choose between Reform and Greens.
Polanski also said the Greens would use the byelection to challenge Burnham on policy.
We will also use the byelection to press Andy Burnham on what kind of MP and prime minister he would be, given his mixed track record, and interviews this week suggesting he isn’t committed to fair voting, public ownership and a genuinely new economic settlement. We’d like to know which version of Andy Burnham is going to show up.
In February the Greens won a byelection in Gorton and Denton, which like Makerfield is in Greater Manchester, beating Reform UK in what had been a Labour seat. But the demographics in Gorton and Denton were much more favourable to the Greens. Polling suggests Makerfield will be a straight fight between Burnham and Reform UK.
Updated
Andy Burnham to back electoral reform if he becomes prime minister
Andy Burnham has said he will back sweeping changes to the electoral system to make politics “less point-scoring, more problem-solving” if he becomes prime minister, Josh Halliday reports.
Lib Dems say it's 'deeply troubling' Andrew was not vetted before being given trade envoy role
The Liberal Democrats, who tabled the humble address motion leading to the release of the documents about Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, have said they were alarmed to discover that Andrew was not vetted for the role.
Wendy Chamberlain, the Lib Dem chief whip, said:
It is shocking and deeply troubling that Andrew was appointed to the trade envoy role with no vetting. Nobody should be above such standards. This raises serious questions about why officials and ministers at the time thought that was acceptable.
The lack of documentation provided is itself concerning, as is the time it has taken to get this far. We must get the full files from government without delay, and an explanation about why there is such a small paper trail. And the government must commit to mandatory vetting for all similar appointments in future.
The victims and survivors of Jeffrey Epstein, and the justice they have been denied for years, are foremost in our minds as this continues.
London mayor Sadiq Khan blocks £50m Met police deal with Palantir
A £50m Met police deal with the controversial US tech company Palantir has been blocked by the London mayor, Sadiq Khan, with City Hall citing a “clear and serious breach” of procurement rules, Robert Booth reports.
Reeves announces £350m support for chemicals sector, and £120m for ceramics
The Department for Business and Trade has published details of the £350m support package for the chemicals industry, and £120m for ceremics. (See 12.27pm.)
It says:
Thousands of UK jobs across British industry are set to be secured thanks to £350m of government support for strategically important chemicals producers and sites alongside a separate £120m scheme for the ceramics sector.
The funding – targeted at strategically important parts of the economy that keep vital everyday UK infrastructure running, support thousands of skilled jobs and protect Britain’s economic security – is designed to help firms stay competitive, modernise infrastructure, decarbonise, and transition their energy supplies from gas to electricity …
The £350m Critical Chemicals Resilience Fund will back the UK’s most strategically important chemical producers – the firms that supply the critical inputs relied on by sectors including food, energy, water and healthcare …
A separate package for the ceramics sector will include £120m of support to back capital investment in energy efficiency and decarbonisation projects, as well as provide operational support for successful applicants to the fund who require additional support to manage increased costs.
Ceramics are not only crucial for housebuilding and everyday items like plates, bowls and smartphone screens but strategic industries such as advanced manufacturing, defence and tech, backed by the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy.
Reeves claims British farmers won't be affected by tariff cuts on food items
Stuart Andrew (Con) asked if British farmer would be affected by the plan to cut tariffs on some food items. Reeves said that tariffs would not be cut in areas where there is “significant” UK production. But Andrew said “significant” might mean one thing to a supermarket, and another to a Shropshire farmer.
Reeves said that the government was still consulting on the details of the tariffs. She went on:
But we’ve worked hard to make sure that this does not affect British farmers.
Daisy Cooper, the Lib Dem Treasury spokesperson and deputy leader, told MPs that the Lib Dems had been calling for a VAT cut for hospitality. But, if the cut just lasted for the summer, indoor attractions, like soft play areas, might not benefit, she said.
Reeves said that she had had enough holidays in Britain during the summer to know that “there are plenty of days where it’s raining”.
She also said she expected to see Ed Davey, the Lib Dem leader, visting a soft play centre soon.
In the Commons Mel Stride, the shadow chancellor, asked Reeves to confirm that the meaures announces today would be paid for, at least in party, by borrowing.
In response, Reeves said Stride was wrong. The measures would not be funded by higher borrowing, she said. She said the changes to the foreign branch tax rules for energy companies (see 12.33pm) would fund the measures.
Updated
And here is the Treasury’s news release about the plan for free bus travel for children in August, and the plan to cut tariffs on food items.
It says the Treasury is spending “more than £100m to fund the free fares scheme and also continuing to support bus services”.
And it says the tariff cuts on items like biscuits, chocolate and dried fruit and nuts should save consumers more than £150m a year.
Treasury gives example of how its 'Great British summer savings scheme' could help families
The Treasury has published details of how its Great British Summer savings scheme will work.
Here is the news release.
Here is a Treasury fact sheet on the plan. It includes these examples.
If the business chooses to pass through the full benefit, the total VAT savings for a family of two adults and two children could be:
-£20 off the family’s tickets to a theme park
-£2 off entry to soft play
-£6 off the family’s tickets to a farm attraction
-£17 off the family’s tickets to a wildlife park
-£1.50 off the children’s tickets to the cinema
-£9 off the family’s tickets to the circus
-£2 off the children’s meals on a lunch out
-£11 off the family’s tickets to the aquarium
Mel Stride, the shadow chancellor, responded to Rachel Reeves in the Commons. He said that the measures announced today would bring “little comfort to the hundreds of thousands of people who have lost their jobs, to the countless businesses that have folded, and to those high streets which are now hollowed out”.
VAT on attractions like theme parks and zoos, and on meals and cinema tickets for children, to be cut over summer, Reeves says
Reeves confirmed that the government would free bus travel in England for children aged between 5 and 15 throughout August.
And she announced a temporary reduction in VAT on summer attractions.
I recognise that what matters for families is not just getting by, but being able to enjoy time together without worrying about the next bill.
That is why I am launching the Great British Summer savings scheme to help families and support our hospitality sector, so I can today announce a temporary cut in the rate of VAT on summer attractions from 20% to 5% over the summer holidays.
This will apply to ticket prices for both adults and children, covering attractions such as fairs, theme parks, zoos and museums.
It will include children’s tickets for cinemas, concerts, soft play and the theatre, and it will cut the cost of children’s meals in restaurants and cafes from 20% VAT to 5% as well.
These changes will apply across the UK from the start of the Scottish school holidays on 25 June, and run until the end of school holidays in England, Wales and Northern Ireland on the 1 September.
Updated
Reeves says CMA to get new powers to stop firms making excessive profits
Reeves said she was giving the Competition and Markets Authority new powers to tackle profiteering.
I will not tolerate any company exploiting the current situation to make excess profits at consumers expense. So I am bringing forward tough new powers so that the Competition and Markets Authority and other regulators can take action.
Reeves says tariffs to be cut on more than 100 food items, to reduce supermarket prices
Reeves confirmed the fuel duty freeze would continue until the end of the year.
She said tariffs on some food items will be cut.
I know that the cost of the weekly shop is often one of the biggest worries for families.
So last month I met with supermarkets to urge them to do all they can to keep prices low.
And today I am taking action by suspending tariffs on over 100 different foods sold in supermarkets.
And I am clear that I expect supermarkets to pass these savings on in full to their customers.
Updated
Reeves says tax changes for energy companies will raise hundreds of millions, to fund measures announced today
Reeves says she is announcing changes to the way energy companies are taxed.
Currently, some oil and gas groups that operate overseas through foreign branches have structured their tax affairs in a way which ensures they pay little or no corporation tax on their UK energy trading profits. Today we are putting an end to that practice.
We expect these reforms to raise hundreds of millions of pounds a year and fund the package of measures set out today, with costings certified by the OBR forecast in the usual way.
Reeves announces 10p per mile increase in tax-free mileage rates
Reeves confirms the 12-month road tax holiday for hauliers.
The government is granting a 12 month road tax holiday for HGVs, saving the typical heavy lorry up to £912.
She says she is cutting the duty on red diesel by over a third until the end of this year.
And she confirms the increase in mileage rates (the news that seems to have particularly annoyed the speaker because of the way it was pre-briefed – see 11.30am).
She says:
I can today announce a 10p mile increase in tax-free mileage rates, backdated to April 2026, benefiting those who need to drive for work from care workers to plumbers.
Reeves says families have had their energy bills cut by £150 because of the decisions she took in her budget last year.
She says Ofgem will confirm its price cap figure for the three months from July next week.
And she says she is willing to step in to help businesses later this year.
We stand ready to act if market conditions worsen significantly later this year, and I have been leading cross-government contingency work on design of potential, future targeted and temporary support for businesses. Any support will also need to be carefully targeted at firms most exposed to the crisis.
But she says she is today announcing a £350m critical chemicals resilience fund to help firms in the chemicals sector with energy costs.
And she says she is announcing a new £120m fund to help our historic ceramics in sector.
Updated
Reeves restates her belief that war in Iran 'a mistake'
Reeves says the economy has been harmed by the war in Iran.
The conflict in the Middle East poses a significant challenge to the world’s economy, including our own.
I have not shied away from my criticism of the war. I believe it to have been a mistake.
Rachel Reeves starts statement to MPs on cost of living saying UK had fastest growing economy in G7 in first quarter of 2026
Rachel Reeves, the chancellor, is giving her statement now.
She starts with figures suggesting the economy is performing well.
I said I would grow the economy. And last week the Office for National Statistics confirmed that Britain’s economy was the fastest growing in the G7 for the first quarter of this year.
We beat the Office of Budget Responsibility’s forecast in the spring, with economic growth at 0.6% in the three months to March, and because of the resilience of our economy this week, the International Monetary Fund upgraded Britain’s forecast for this year.
Rachel Reeves will be giving her statement in the Commons shortly. Here is Helena Horton’s story, with video, about how she took on a heckler when she was doing an event in public yesterday.
Business department publishes documents with 41 pages of paperwork relating to Andrew's trade envoy appointment
Here is the Department for Business and Trade document with 41 pages of paperwork relating to the appointment of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor as a trade envoy.
Former Tory home secretary James Cleverly claims he deserves credit for fall in net migration figures
James Cleverly, the shadow housing secretary, is keen to take credit for today’s fall in net immigration figures – even though the official response from his party implies his policies did not help much. (See 10.18am.) He says:
Some people talked about reducing net migration, I did something about reducing net migration.
Chris Osuh is a Guardian community affairs correspondent.
Youth custody rates were slashed by a Ministry of Justice-funded project in which children were placed in residential settings while awaiting trial, research from Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU) has found.
This week the government set out plans to overhaul the youth justice system, including a commitment to reduce the use of custodial remand for children by 25%.
The Greater Manchester Alternative to Custodial Remand pilot explored whether the number of children being held on secure remand could be reduced by youth justice teams pooling their budgets, and informs the government’s plans for reform.
The project, led by Manchester Met’s Centre for Crime and Youth Justice, meant children could be placed in local authority accommodation – including a property that was designed to feel domestic but was secure, staffed and with access to support – instead of a typical custodial setting.
The number of children on remand in Greater Manchester fell from a monthly peak of 18 in April 2024 to just one in January 2026, saving £3m, researchers said.
Prof Hannah Smithson, professor of criminology and youth justice at MMU’s Centre for Crime and Youth Justice, said:
This groundbreaking pilot has shown the importance of effective alternatives to custodial remand for children, the majority of whom were not given custodial sentences after being held in custody on remand.
Our evaluation comes at an important time for youth justice and directly speaks to the proposals in the government’s new youth justice white paper. It demonstrates how a regional pooled funding approach, alongside small-scale, highly supervised residential settings, can support more equitable and child-centred youth justice practice.
Economists query whether Streeting's capital gains tax plan would really raise up to £12bn, as he claims
The Tax Justice UK campaign has welcomed Wes Streeting’s call for capital gains tax rates to be aligned with income tax rates. Its executive director, Faiza Shaheen, says:
It is only right that wealth should be taxed at the same rate as work because at the moment, if you make your money from assets like shares or property, the system has been designed to give you a sweet deal compared to everyone else.
In a de-facto leadership contest where candidates need to win support, advocating for higher taxes on wealth is a win-win. It’s popular and it is a concrete way to build a fairer economy.
This also needs to extend to an annual wealth tax on the very richest that generates tens of billions of pounds to invest in affordable homes, cheaper bills and making the country work for everyone.
Here is Alexandra Topping’s story about Streeting’s comments.
But economists aren’t impressed by the former health secretary’s intervention.
These are from Helen Miller, director at the Institute for Fiscal Studies.
@TheIFS we’ve long made case for wholesale CGT reform
Important: raising revenue & avoiding reducing investment requires reform of tax base.
Always good to see politicians picking up our ideas. You can read about the why & how of reform here https://ifs.org.uk/publications/capital-gains-tax-reform 2 notes:..
Simply raising rates would not raise big sums of revenue (it could easily lose money) and would reduce investment
Also...
It’s unclear to me what this would mean in practice; “reward genuine entrepreneurship, with lower CGT rates for those who take real risks building companies and creating job”
A key difficulty is that it’s very hard to know in advance who the ‘genuine entrepreneurs ‘ are.
And this is from Rupert Harrison, who was chief of staff to George Osborne when he was chancellor.
And yet every time a new Labour team gets into the Treasury and asks about this idea they will be told the data clearly shows it would actually result in lower tax revenues, and they won’t do it.
We are pretty much at the revenue maximising rates for capital gains tax.
And this isn’t because of avoidance schemes, it’s mainly just that people would defer selling assets or possibly move overseas.
To justify his claim that aligning capital gains tax with income tax could raise up to £12bn a year, Streeting has cited research from the Centre for Analysis of Taxation (CenTax).
Late queen was 'very keen' for Andrew to take on trade envoy role, memo reveals
The late Queen was “very keen” for Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor to take on a “prominent role in the promotion of national interests”, a senior official told the then-foreign secretary before he was appointed trade envoy in 2001. The Press Association says:
In a memo addressed to Robin Cook dated 25 February 2000, then-chief executive of British Trade International Sir David Wright said Queen Elizabeth II’s “wish” had been for Andrew, then the Duke of York, to take on the job.
Wright suggested the role would include some regional trips and two or three overseas visits each year, as well as a “leading trade mission from time to time”.
He said: “Finally, we would want the Duke of York to be available to receive prominent trade visitors from overseas here in London and perhaps act as host at meals or receptions as appropriate.”
The senior official said he “did not envisage that the Duke of York would want to be burdened with the regularity of meetings of the board of British Trade International or the burden of paper which goes along with the board membership”.
He added: “We would nonetheless ensure that he was kept in touch with board developments and issues.”
The memo has been released today as part of a trove of files related to Andrew’s appointment to the post, which gave him access to senior government and business contacts around the world.
The former duke faces accusations of sharing sensitive information with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein while acting as a special representative for trade and investment between 2001 and 2011.
It came after the Liberal Democrats tabled a humble address in parliament calling for the publication of papers on Andrew’s role, including any vetting and any correspondence from disgraced former ambassador to the US Peter Mandelson.
The list of Commons written statements due to be released includes one from the Department of Business and Trade entitled “Return to the Humble Address on Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor”.
Updated
Trade minister Chris Bryant to make Commons statement later on release of Andrew trade envoy documents
In the Commons we have already had an urgent question on costs for motorists. Rachel Reeeves, the chancellor, is giving a statement later, but the speaker, Lindsay Hoyle, seems to have granted the UQ in part because he was particularly annoyed that the government briefed yesterday about a change to mileage rules – even though Keir Starmer did not mention that when he told MPs the fuel duty freeze was being extended.
Hoyle may have been angered by this item in Politico’s London Playbook this morning.
Playbook hears that Reeves is expected to announce a rise in mileage rates (the 45p a mile that employers pay employees in expenses for using their car for business travel), which haven’t been lifted for 15 years. Key unions have been campaigning on that one for yonks, since social care workers are among those affected, and the Treasury launched a review in March. There is a conspicuously titled “transport taxation update” written statement due out later.
Alan Campbell, the leader of the Commons, is currently taking business questions.
After 12.15pm we are getting three statements: Reeves on the cost of living; then Hamish Falconer, a Foreign Office minister, on the Middle East; and finally Chris Bryant, the trade minister, on the Andrew humble address documents.
Updated
Starmer says fall in net immigration shows government 'is delivering'
Keir Starmer has released this statement on social media about the immigration figures.
Net migration has fallen 82%.
I promised to restore control to our borders. My government is delivering.
I know there’s more to do, we’re introducing a skills-based migration system that rewards contribution and ends our reliance on cheap overseas workers.
The Conservatives could argue that the fall in net immigration is largely the result of policies that they introduced before the 2024 election. But, rather than make this argument, Chris Philp, the shadow home secretary, prefers to argue that immigration is still too high. (See 10.18am.)
The late queen was “very keen” for Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor to take on a “prominent role in the promotion of national interests”, then-chief executive of British Trade International Sir David Wright said in a memo to then-foreign secretary Robin Cook dated February 2000, the Press Association reports.
The government is today publishing 11 documents relating to Mountbatten-Windsor’s appointment as a trade envoy.
Chris Bryant, the trade minister, has released a written statement about the release of the documents.
Updated
Latest figures suggest 'excessively tough' policies proposed by Labour for legal migration no longer needed, says thinktank
The IPPR, a left-leaning thinktank, says today’s immigration figures suggest the government does not need to press ahead with plans to toughen the rules governing legal migration.
In a statement, Marley Morris, the IPPR’s associate director for migration, trade and communities, said:
Today’s figures show that migration has fallen sharply, while the asylum system is beginning to function more effectively after a period of strain. The government has made notable progress since the start of the year in closing asylum hotels.
This should prompt a more measured debate. An excessively tough approach now runs the risk of making policy for the pressures of three years ago, rather than the reality of today.
Public concern about migration has been driven by a sense that the system was not under control. The figures suggest that is changing, but there is still work to do.
The focus now should be on the parts of the system that still need fixing: tackling small boat crossings, closing remaining asylum hotels, and speeding up appeals. The priority should be to build a fair, well-managed immigration system that supports the economy and public services, not a race to push numbers ever lower.
Morris was referring to the government’s plans to significantly increase the amount of time migrants have to wait until they can get indefinite leave to remain in the UK.
Number of asylum seekers housed in hotels down 35% in March on previous year, at 20,885, figures show
The Home Office has also published asylum figures this morning. These show that the number of asylum seekers being housed temporarily in hotels stood at 20,885 at the end of March 2026, down 35% year-on-year from 32,326. The Press Association says:
It is the lowest figure since data was first reported in 2022, Home Office figures show.
The total had climbed as high as 56,018 at the end of September 2023.
The Labour government has pledged to end the use of hotels for asylum seekers by the next election.
Tories claim net immigration still 'far too high' after ONS figures show it almost halved in 2025
The Conservatives are saying non-EU immigration remains “far too high”. This is what Chris Philp, the shadow home secretary, is saying in his response to the net immigration figures.
Brits are leaving on a massive scale and non-EU immigration remains far too high. Mass immigration undermines our society and low wage immigration is bad for the economy. British families feel it in lower wages, longer waiting lists for public services and housing shortages.
Labour must go further and reform indefinite leave to remain before their hard-left flank forces them to abandon it altogether.
The next Conservative government will introduce a binding annual immigration cap at a very low level, close the loopholes that let temporary visa holders stay indefinitely and tighten and extend the conditions for ILR. We want a small number of highly skilled migrants and no low-skilled migration at all. But sadly, Labour do not have the backbone to do any of it.
Shabana Mahmood, the home secretary, has said the immigration figures shows the government is making “real progress” on border controls. In a statement, she said:
Net migration has fallen by 82% in just three years.
We will always welcome those who contribute to this country and wish to build a better life here. But we must restore order and control to our borders.
As these statistics show, real progress has been made, but there is still work to do. That is why I am introducing a skills-based migration system that rewards contribution and ends Britain’s reliance on cheap overseas workers.
The sharp fall in the net immigration figures is largely a result of tougher rules for work visas and student visas, originally introduced by James Cleverly when he was home secretary in the Conservative government, and then mostly kept in place by Labour.
Here is a chart from the ONS report indicating this.
Reform UK and Tory supporters most likely to wrongly think net immigration has been rising, report says
Net immigration has been falling for at least the past two years. But many people wrongly believe the opposite, according to new research from the British Future thinktank, published before today’s ONS figures came out. (See 9.44am.) Geneva Abdul has the story.
Here is the British Future report.
And this chart from the report shows that it is Reform UK and Conservative party supporters most likely to think, wrongly, that net immigration has been going up.
Net immigration into UK fell by almost half in 2025, down to 171,000, ONS says
Net migration to the UK stood at an estimated 171,000 in the year to December 2025, down nearly a half (48%) from 331,000 in the previous 12 months, according to new figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). The Press Association says:
It is the lowest figure since early 2021, when the post-Brexit immigration system was introduced and Covid-19 travel restrictions were still in place.
Net migration is the difference between the number of people moving long-term to the UK and the number of people leaving the country.
An estimated 813,000 people immigrated to the UK in the year to June while 642,000 emigrated.
The continued fall in net migration is being driven by fewer people from outside the EU arriving in the UK for work, the ONS said.
Matthew England from the Hansard Society has a list of all 20 MPs who won the chance to bring in a private member’s bill, listed according to whethere they were for or against assisted dying.
Updated
Desmond Swayne tops list of MPs selected to bring in private members' bills
Here is the list of 20 MPs who won the right to introduce a private member’s bill in the ballot held this morning. The list is in order, with Desmond Swayne in first place. Although 20 MPs can introduce a bill, only the people in the top seven are guaranteed a full day for their second reading debate, which means they are the MPs with the best chance of having a bill that might eventually become law.
The top seven MPs winning the ballot are: Desmond Swayne (Conservative, New Forest West), Lauren Edwards (Labour, Rochester and Strood), Mike Wood (Conservative, Kingswinford and South Staffordshire), Andrew George (Liberal Democrats, St Ives), Luke Evans (Conservative, Hinckley and Bosworth), John Whittingdale (Conservative, Maldon), and Jessica Toale (Labour, Bournemouth West).
The other MPs on the list are: Neil Shastri-Hurst (Conservative, Solihull West and Shirley), Gareth Snell (Labour, Stoke-on-Trent Central), Lincoln Jopp (Conservative, Spelthorne) Patricia Ferguson (Labour, Glasgow West), Robert Jenrick (Reform UK, Newark), Damian Hinds (Conservative, East Hampshire), Alistair Strathern (Labour, Hitchin), Clive Jones (Liberal Democrats, Wokingham), Victoria Atkins (Conservative, Louth and Horncastle), Munira Wilson (Liberal Democrats, Twickenham), Steff Aquarone (Liberal Democrats, North Norfolk), Paul Foster (Labour, South Ribble), and David Pinto-Duschinsky (Labour, Hendon).
This is from my colleague Jessica Elgot.
NEW - Two assisted dying supporters have come second and fourth in the private members bill ballot
- Lauren Edwards
- Andrew George
If they choose to take on the bill, it is possible it could still pass (but it is still very difficult)
Schools are ‘pipeline’ to joblessness for many people, says ex-Labour adviser
Schools have become a “pipeline” to worklessness for a large cohort of young people in the UK, according to an influential former Labour adviser who has called for urgent action to help a “lost generation”. Alexandra Topping and Richard Partington have the story.
Treasury minister Lucy Rigby says rich already being taxed properly, as Wes Streeting calls for 'wealth tax that works'
Good morning. It’s a big day for Rachel Reeves, the chancellor. In a Commons statement, she is announcing a series of measures to help people with the cost of living. She wants people to enjoy a “Great British summer”, she says. Reeves’s plan for what makes for a good summer is not quite the same as Samantha Niblett’s; the chancellor is talking about free bus travel for children, as Heather Stewart, Peter Walker and Sarah Butler report in their preview.
Reeves is speaking after 11.30am.
In the meantime, another Labour MP with ambitions to run the economy has been speaking out. Wes Streeting has given an interview to the BBC’s Nick Robinson for his Political Thinking podcast and he had a lot more to say about his policy agenda than he did in his resignation speech in the Commons yesterday. As the BBC reports, Streeting proposed a “wealth tax that works” – by which he means not what most people think of as a wealth tax (the Green party version – a tax on assets above a certain amount), but instead aligning capital gains tax rates with income tax rates. Streeting said this proposal – which is broadly the same as one of the main proposals in the Labour Growth Group’s report last week – could raise up to £12bn a year.
Lucy Rigby, the new chief secretary to the Treasury, was giving interviews this morning. Asked about Streeting’s proposal, she said she had not heard his interview, but she suggested Reeves was already taxing wealth. She told the Today programme:
We already tax wealth in this country. The chancellor introduced a host of measures in her first budget, and then further measures in the last budget as well, that try and make sure that tax is as progressive and fair as possible.
Here is the agenda for the day.
9am: Nusrat Ghani, a Commons deputy speaker, selects from a ballot the 20 MPs who will get a slot to bring forward a private member’s bill.
9.30am: The Office for National Statistics publishes figures for long-term migration into the UK. Separately, the Home Office publishes its quarterly asylum figures.
9.30am: Peter Kyle, the businesss secretary, takes questions in the Commons.
10.30am: Steve Reed, the communities secretary, gives a speech on “neighbourhood standards”. He is expected to suggest profits made by private providers of social care could be capped.
11.30am: Downing Street holds a lobby briefing.
After 11.30am: Rachel Reeves, the chancellor, makes a statement to MPs about measures to help people with the cost of living.
There are also 14 written statements coming today, of which at least two look particularly interesting. The government will publish information about the appointment of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor as a trade envoy, in compliance with a Commons humble address. And Bridget Phillipson, the equalities minister, is publishing the long-awaited guidance on single sex spaces updated in the light of last year’s supreme court judgment on the meaning of the Equality Act.
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