Politics latest: PM to meet police chiefs after 'extreme violence' on streets; minister summons BBC boss after Huw Edwards' conviction (2024)

We've had an updated following the protests outside Downing Street last night from the Met Police.

They say that 111 people were arrested.

This includes :

• One arrest for possession of offensive weapons - seven knives, one catapult with ammunition and nunchucks;
• Twenty seven arrest for failing to comply with conditions applied to the protest;
• Sixteen arrests for violent disorder - one of which was also wanted for burglary and another was also arrested for failing to comply with conditions;
• Two arrests for assault on emergency worker – one of which was also arrested for failing to comply with conditions imposed;
• Two arrests for racially/religiously aggravated causing fear of violence;
• One arrest for unlawful possession of Class A drugs;
• Two arrests for breach of dispersal order.

Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist: "Last night our officers faced unacceptable scenes of disorder and violence, as others across the country have done in recent days. They acted with great courage and the highest levels of professionalism in the face of hateful behaviour.

"All our thoughts should be with the victims and families of those impacted by the most dreadful attack in Southport. It is shameful that some have sought to exploit this tragedy as justification for their own violence and criminality.

"There is absolutely no place for this on our streets. We will ensure that anyone involved in any violent disorder and criminal behaviour will be stopped, arrested and will face justice."

We've had a reaction from Chancellor Rachel Reeves to the cut in interest rates today.

In a statement, she says: "While today's cut in interest rates will be welcome news, millions of families are still facing higher mortgage rates after the mini-budget.

"That is why this government is taking the difficult decisions now to fix the foundations of our economy after years of low growth, so we can rebuild Britain and make every part of our country better off."

Conversely, shadow chancellor Jeremy Hunt is trying to present the rates cut as the outcome of his party's prudent management of the economy.

He said: "Today's cut will be welcome news for millions of homeowners and shows that Labour inherited a stronger economy which was on the right track.

"In government, we took difficult decisions that cut inflation from 11.1% to the Bank's target 2% paving the way for lower rates.

"Our concern is that further substantive cuts may now take longer because of inflation-busting public sector pay rises rushed through by the chancellor ahead of the summer."

The Bank of England has cut the base rate for the first time since the cost of living crisis began.

The Bank's Monetary Policy Committee cut the country's main interest rate to 5% from 5.25%, where it had stood since August 2023.

Amid the cost of living squeeze, the base rate had climbed steadily from the ultra low era of 0.1% in 2021.

Rates were elevated to combat high inflation. They do this by encouraging saving and discouraging spending - when this happens, price rises tend to slow.

With inflation now at target 2%, the path to lower rates appears to have begun.

A cut is positive for mortgage holders - but less so for savers.

You can read more about the rates cut here

As the last standing Conservative metro mayor, Lord Ben Houchen has been branded by some as the most power Tory politician after his party was ousted from government.

It is unsurprising, then, that those MPs vying to take over the party are courting the Tees Valley mayor's vote.

Both Tom Tugendhat and Mel Stride wrote complimentary posts on social media this morning about one of Lord Houchen's columns in The Sunday Times.

The article - headlined "Competence will redeem the Tories. Tacking right will not" - warns against moving closer to Reform in the wake of election defeat.

But it was Tom Tugendhat that Lord Houchen chose to repost on X.

Mr Tugendhat said: "I agree with Ben Houchen. He has already shown the way to win - say what we will do and deliver what we say. Competence builds trust."

Lord Houchen replied: "Good to see Tom Tugendhat signing up to my leadership contest pledges and a future direction of competent pragmatic delivery over years of ideological driven opposition.

"Looking forward to the other members who want to lead our party, engaging with my blueprint for the future."

But it is understood the mayor is not endorsing any of the candidates yet - and is just welcoming his position on the party's future being endorsed and hopes other contenders engage in the debate.

As he is not an MP, Lord Houchen does not get a vote until the leadership contest reaches its final two in October.

But he is a powerful voice in the party - especially among northern Conservatives and the Red Wall.

Family doctors from the British Medical Association have voted to take industrial action.

According to the BMA, more than 8,500 GPs in England voted in the ballot - with 98.3% supporting taking action.

The unions said: "This means, from today, the Association will encourage practices to choose from a list of ten actions, andpractices can choose to implement as few or as many as they think appropriate.

"​Actions may include refusing to share patient data unless it’s in the best interests of a patient, referring patients directly to specialist care rather than following longer and more complex NHS processes and switching off NHS software which tries to cut prescribing costs."

The union adds that the action comes in response to being "forced to more with less".

It says: "GPs have been repeatedly ignored and not given the funding they need to handle growing pressures."

Sky News' hugely popular politics podcast Electoral Dysfunction will go on tour in September after a busy summer covering the general election.

A series of live shows around the UK will be hosted by Sky's political editorBeth Rigby.

She will be joined by regular panellistRuth Davidson, who is a Conservative peer, and a number of special guests at the events in London, Salford, Liverpool and Glasgow.

During the shows, audiences will get their chance to ask questions and get the panel's thoughts on the world of politics and podcasting.

👉Click here to follow Electoral Dysfunction wherever you get your podcasts👈

The podcast has reached over two million downloads since it was launched earlier this year - and it regularly features at the top of the charts.

Founding contributor and Labour MPJess Phillipsrecorded herfinal episodeearlier this month after being appointed a government minister.

Tickets are available here:aegp.uk/Electoral-Dysfunction

Electoral Dysfunction Live, September dates:

• London - Thursday 12th, Bloomsbury Theatre (SOLD OUT)
• Salford - Monday 16th, Lowry Quays
• Liverpool - Sunday 22nd, St George's Hall
• Glasgow - Thursday 26th, The Glee Club

Audiences can expect sharp dissection of the latest spin from Westminster and beyond, combined with plenty of lively discussion.

During what will be a significant time in global politics - with the UK a few months into a new government and the US election fast approaching - the team will discuss which politicians are succeeding, and who risks having a so-called "electoral dysfunction".

Exclusive by Mark Kleinman, City editor

Sir Paul Marshall, the hedge fund tycoon and GB News shareholder, is closing in on a deal to buy The Spectator, one of Britain’s most influential political media titles.

Sky News has learnt that Sir Paul, the co-founder of Marshall Wace, has emerged as the leading contender to buy The Spectator, which is part of an auction process which also involves the Daily and Sunday Telegraph newspapers.

Sources close to the process said the City financier's Old Queen Street Ventures vehicle could strike a deal to buy the magazine as soon as this month.

Insiders said a purchase by Sir Paul of The Spectator would not necessarily rule him out of the Telegraph sale, although there has been growing doubt in recent weeks about whether he would participate in the newspaper auction.

The fate of the media assets has been thrown into question by the unravelling of a deal that would have seen RedBird IMI, a vehicle backed by Abu Dhabi state funding, take control of them.

The takeover collapsed after the government intervened to block ownership of national newspapers by funds emanating from overseas governments.

Read more below:

In the Peterborough column in The Daily Telegraph last week, it was reported that Transport Secretary Louise Haigh had blocked one of her colleagues as "keeps sending her complaints about the poor catering on the trains and planes he travels on".

The column, written by GB News's Chris Hope, did not name the protesting minister.

But he has now been outed by Ms Haigh herself.

Posting on social media last night, the Labour MP said: "Reader, it was Ed Miliband I blocked".

It is not the first time Mr Miliband has come a cropper for his dietary preferences - he was widely ridiculed for an unflattering picture of him eating a bacon sandwich in 2014.

The race is still on to be the next Conservative leader.

Here's who is running this time, to replace Rishi Sunak:

The Essex MP, a former home, education and foreign secretary, was a loyal lieutenant for both Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak.

Part of his brief as home secretary was theplan to send asylum seekers to Rwanda- something he is said to have had reservations about in private.

He caused controversy last year - and was forced to apologise - after making ajoke about date rape, which he admitted may have undermined the government's work to tackle drink spiking.

The former security minister and soldier is regarded highly among the One Nation group of moderate Tory MPs.

But he has said he would consider leaving the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) if it "doesn't serve our interests" - a change in his stance seen as appealing to the right of the party.

Mr Tugendhatis notable for his hawkish stance onChina, although this became more muted once he entered government.

Mr Jenrick held several ministerial roles, including communities secretary and immigration minister.

Heresigned from the latter over Mr Sunak's Rwanda bill, suggesting it wasn't robust enough.

His stint as communities secretary was marred by him fast-tracking a £1bn housing development proposed by a Tory donor.

A long-standing ally of Mr Sunak, he was dubbed "the minister for the morning round" during the general election campaign, facing the media more than any of his colleagues.

He served as work and pensions secretary through Mr Sunak's premiership, and has stayed on to shadow the role.

He also had a spell in the Treasury, both as financial secretary and paymaster general, during Theresa May's tenure in Number 10, and went on to chair the Treasury Select Committee between 2019 and 2022.

Dame Priti is seen as one of the more traditional right-wing MPs in the Conservative Party.

She has put herself forward as the candidate to reunite the party and insisted "authentic" conservative values such as defending freedom, promoting enterprise, keeping people safe and spreading opportunity remained popular with the public.

Dame Priti - who stayed loyal to Boris Johnson - has promised members would be rewarded for their loyalty under her leadership with a greater voice in policy and the direction of the party.

The former business secretary is seen as a darling of the right and has impressed some in the party with her no-nonsense approach.

Ms Badenochhas promised to "speak the truth again" and wants to renew the party by 2030 by reconfirming "our belief in the nation state and the sovereign duty it has, above all else, to serve its own citizens".

Ms Badenoch has been outspoken on issues includingwomen's rights, equality, and identity politics.

Sir Keir Starmer is meeting with various senior figures in police forces today - although it is not clear exactly who.

It comes following what Downing Street has described as "multiple high-profile incidents of extreme violence and public disorder on our streets".

So what is this be referring to?

The most prominent example is the attacks in Southport, which saw three little girls die - and the subsequent rioting that left dozens of police officers injured.

And then there were ugly scenes outside Downing Street last night - again with officers injured and more than 100 people arrested.

Last night also saw unrest in Hartlepool - with police cars set on fire and bottles and eggs thrown.

Manchester saw disorder last night, as well as Aldershot in Hampshire.

And on Tuesday there were arrests and weapons seized following ugly scenes in Southend in Essex.