Thanks for following the blog today. Here are all the key developments:
Sir Keir Starmer paid back more than £6,000 worth of gifts and hospitality he received since entering Number 10 after a row over ministerial donations.
The Labour peer Waheed Alli is under investigation by a parliamentary watchdog over a potential breach of the code of conduct. Alli is being investigated after a complaint that he has not registered his interests correctly. He has been thrust into the spotlight recently over tens of thousands of pounds worth of gifts he gave to Keir Starmer and Angela Rayner.
Starmer pledged that the UK and European Union would work to strengthen co-operation on the economy and security, as well as to “make Brexit work” after meeting with European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen.
The four Conservative leadership candidates set out their visions for the party – consensus from the commentariat was that James Cleverly came out strongest.
We’ll be back tomorrow with all the latest happenings in Westminster.
Starmer has acknowledged there would be “issues which are difficult to resolve” in his talks with the European Union.
Following his meeting with Ursula von der Leyen, he told reporters:
We’re putting our relationship with Europe on a more solid, stable footing.
That’s what the British people want, a return to pragmatic, sensible leadership when it comes to dealing with our closest neighbours, because they know that this matters for growth, for jobs and for security.
The detailed work to take this forward starts now. We’ve agreed to hold regular UK-EU summits at leader level to review progress, starting with a summit in the first half of next year.
Of course, there will be issues which are difficult to resolve and areas on which we will stand firm.
There will be no return to freedom of movement, no return to the customs union, no return to the single market.
ut we will find constructive ways to work together and deliver for the British people.
