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Politics latest: 'Britain is being mugged': Badenoch says UK's asylum system is 'completely broken'

Kemi Badenoch says the UK "will likely need to leave" the European Court of Human Rights, adding that the asylum system is "completely broken".

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Thank you for joining us for live coverage of today's events in British politics.

Use the key points above to explore today's events, or scroll down for full coverage of today's events.

We'll be back on Sunday for this week's edition of Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips, live on Sky News at 8.30am.

Defence secretary lays wreath to mark 81st anniversary of D-Day

John Healey is in Normandy today to mark the 81st anniversary of D-Day.

The defence secretary attended commemorations at the British Normandy Memorial and Bayeux War Cemetery. 

He also had lunch with veterans of the Second World War who travelled to northern France to mark the anniversary.

D-Day was and remains the largest seaborne invasion in military history and ultimately led to the end of the war, as Allied troops battled through France and into Germany. 

Healey said: "We forever owe an enormous debt to the British and Allied forces who landed in Normandy 81 years ago today, determined to defeat Nazi tyranny and restore peace to Western Europe.

"As we reset the nation鈥檚 contract with our armed forces, we will continue to remember all those who served to defend our values."

The ceremonies this year are all the more poignant at a time of global conflict, and with the defence budget very much on Healey's mind.

We'll have more on that confirmed in the spending review next week. 

But here are some photos of what the defence secretary has been up to today:

Electoral Dysfunction: Rachel Reeves faces the numbers - can she cut it?

As Rachel Reeves prepares for next week's spending review, Beth explains why it could be a defining moment for the government and the chancellor is faced with difficult choices.

Harriet talks about the two-child benefit cap and whether the government can afford to scrap it.

And as Sir Keir Starmer puts the country on a war footing, Sky's defence correspondent Deborah Haynes joins Beth, Ruth and Harriet to talk about the strategic defence review and why there's no argument across parliament about defence spending.

Deborah also talks about her own podcast, The Wargame, which is out next week and simulates an attack on the UK.

Remember you can also watch us on 

Starmer will be breathing a sigh of relief after clinching shock by-election victory

By Connor Gillies, Scotland correspondent

Anything other than a win for Labour would have been a humiliation in this contest.

It wasn't any old local by-election - this was a contest where Labour knew it could act as a mini barometer of Sir Keir Starmer's recent U-turn on winter fuel payments and become a test of how popular the politics of Nigel Farage are in Scotland.

Labour are power hungry and have, for a long time, set their sights on forming the next Scottish government.

The prime minister will this morning be breathing a sigh of relief after clinching this shock victory over the SNP and Reform UK.

This contest on the outskirts of Glasgow came at a time where Labour had been firefighting and grappling with polling suggesting they had blown their chances of ousting the SNP from power in Edinburgh after almost 20 years.

The SNP had a spring in their step during this campaign after a chaotic couple of years.

First Minister and SNP leader John Swinney had apparently stemmed the bleeding after the infamous police fraud investigation, endless fallout over gender identity reforms, and last year's general election where they were almost wiped out.

This result leaves them no further forward than 12 months ago, with questions over the party's strategy.

ICYMI: Minister 'not going to speculate' on whether UK partly to blame for Ukrainian drone attack

Russia's UK ambassador has told Sky News that Ukraine's recent attacks risk escalating the conflict to "World War III" - as he partly blamed the UK.

In an interview with Sky News' Yalda Hakim, Andrei Kelin pointed the finger at the UK when he suggested Ukraine must have had assistance in the attacks - particularly vast drone attack on Russian aircrafts.

"[This] kind of attack involves, of course, provision of very high technology, so-called geospaced data, which only can be done by those who have it in possession. And this is London and Washington," he said.

"I don't believe that America [is involved], that has been denied by president Trump, definitely, but it has not been denied by London.

"We perfectly know how much London is involved, how deeply British forces are involved in working together with Ukraine."

Watch: Russia's ambassador says 'we know how much London is involved'

Sky's Matt Barbet asked cabinet minister Steve Reed if the UK is providing "geospaced data" to Ukraine to assist in their attacks, like the one on Russian aircrafts.

He replied that he does not know and is "not going to speculate".

But he added: "I know that we as government, cross-party actually, are standing foursquare alongside Ukraine as they fight, as they try to defend themselves against a brutal, unprovoked, and illegal attack, an invasion, by Vladimir Putin.

"We want there to be peace talks - we want this conflict to end. But it's quite right that we should support Ukraine."

Asked if there is a risk the UK gets sucked deeper into the conflict than the public would maybe be comfortable with, the cabinet minister said: "I do know that the people of this country and the government of this country, want to stand alongside Ukraine.

"We need those peace talks to happen. We need peace to happen in that region, we can't allow Russia to get away with invading any more countries."

Trial date set for three men charged over fires at Starmer-linked properties

A trial date has been set for three men charged in connection with arson attacks on two properties and a car linked to Sir Keir Starmer.

Two fires took place in north London early last month - one at the home the PM lived at before he moved to Downing Street, and a car on the same steret was also set alight.

Another fire took place on 11 May at the front door of a house linked to Sir Keir that was converted into flats in Islington.

Ukrainian national Roman Lavrynovych, 21, and Romanian national Stanislav Carpiuc, 26, appeared together at the Old Bailey on Friday.

Ukrainian national Petro Pochynok, 34, refused to attend the hearing.

Two of the fires took place in Kentish Town, north London - one in the early hours of May 12 at the home where Sir Keir lived before he became Prime Minister and moved into Downing Street.

Lavrynovych, of Lewisham, south-east London, has been charged with three counts of arson with intent to endanger life on 8 May, 11 May, and 12 May.

Carpiuc, from Romford, east London, and Pochynok, of Islington, north London, are each accused of one count of conspiracy to commit arson with intent to endanger life between 17 April and 13 May.

Lavrynovych and Carpiuc appeared at the hearing via videolink from HMP Belmarsh, and spoke only to confirm their identities and dates of birth via an interpreter.

Ms Justice Cheema Grubb told the court that Pochynok had refused to leave his cell for the preliminary hearing.

All three defendants were remanded in custody to next appear for a plea and trial preparation hearing at the same court on 17 October 17.

A provisional trial date was set for April 27 next year in front of a High Court judge.

A fourth person, a 48-year-old man, was arrested by police at Stansted Airport on Monday on suspicion of conspiracy to commit arson with intent to endanger life in connection with the incidents.

The Metropolitan Police said he had been released on bail until next month.

Equalities watchdog writes to GMB union over sexual harassment claims

By Serena Barker-Singh, political correspondent

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has formally written to the GMB union asking for information on how it's complying with the Equality Act following allegations of sexual harassment, victimisation and sex discrimination, Sky News understands.

Former staffers and members of the union  over claims of institutional sexism and bullying, but this is the first time it has deemed them serious enough to start inquiries.

It's the first step in a possible investigation by the equalities watchdog into activity at the union over systemic sexism, and GMB has just under a month to respond.

GMB has said it categorically denies claims of a culture of bullying or sexism within the union.

"GMB has been contacted by the EHRC with a request for information," said a statement.

"This is a procedural matter and not an investigation.

"We look forward to responding properly and professionally to their request."

'Institutionally sexist'

In the original complaint, which Sky News has seen, a number of women allege there is a "pattern of victimisation and harassment against women who speak out" about wrongdoing inside the Labour-backed union.

They argue it could be a breach of GMB's duties under the Equality Act.

GMB is one of the biggest unions in the UK, but has been struggling with its reputation for years.

Four years ago, a damning report written by Karon Monaghan KC branded the union "institutionally sexist" and a number of women who complained to the EHRC insist the union hasn't changed.

Major Labour funder

GMB represents about 630,000 workers in the UK and is one of the Labour Party's major funders.

Sir Keir Starmer gave the keynote speech at the GMB conference a year before the last general election and numerous cabinet ministers, including the prime minister, are members.

This weekend, the union, which prides itself on fighting for people in their own workplaces, will once again meet for its annual conference in Brighton - but this time with looming questions over how fairly it treats its own.

Electoral Dysfunction: Rachel Reeves faces the numbers - can she cut it?

As Rachel Reeves prepares for next week's spending review, Beth explains why it could be a defining moment for the government and the chancellor is faced with difficult choices.

Harriet talks about the two-child benefit cap and whether the government can afford to scrap it.

And as Sir Keir Starmer puts the country on a war footing, Sky's defence correspondent Deborah Haynes joins Beth, Ruth and Harriet to talk about the strategic defence review and why there's no argument across parliament about defence spending.

Deborah also talks about her own podcast, The Wargame, which is out next week and simulates an attack on the UK.

Remember you can also watch us on 

'I'll get better,' Badenoch tells Tories

Kemi Badenoch organised a news conference to announce her party is highly likely to take Britain out of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) if they win the next election.

Unsurprisingly, given recent electoral setbacks, a lot of the questions were less about the ECHR, rather than whether winning the next election is a remotely realistic prospect.

After disastrous losses of councillors in England in May; and coming a distant fourth in a by-election in Scotland last night, the Tory party remains firmly in the doldrums.

An Ipsos poll earlier this month gave her an approval rating of just 17%, behind Sir Keir Starmer and Nigel Farage - and the latter is seen as more likely by the public to be the next prime minister than she is.

I asked Badenoch if it was too late to turn things around, to which she told me a lot could change in four years. She said Reform could crash and burn, just as the SDP/Liberal Alliance did in the 1980s.

She said her approach - not to announce leaving the ECHR, but to commission a review, and examine any unintended consequences, especially as regards the Good Friday Agreement in Northern Ireland - was evidence of her party's "credibility".

Badenoch also said she expected to get better as opposition leader. "Labour is going to be facing the Conservative party at the next election, and we are going to get them out", she said.

She will need to convince her colleagues to hold their nerve, with more difficult elections next year in Holyrood and the Welsh Parliament next year.

Watch: Tamara Cohen questions Kemi Badenoch

Davey calls for more support for Ukraine after Russian ambassador said UK partly to blame for drone attack

Russia's UK ambassador has told Sky News that Ukraine's recent attacks risk escalating the conflict to "World War III" - as he partly blamed the UK.

In an interview with Sky News' Yalda Hakim, Andrei Kelin pointed the finger at the UK when he suggested Ukraine must have had assistance in the attacks - particularly vast drone attack on Russian aircrafts.

"[This] kind of attack involves, of course, provision of very high technology, so-called geospaced data, which only can be done by those who have it in possession. And this is London and Washington," he said.

"I don't believe that America [is involved], that has been denied by president Trump, definitely, but it has not been denied by London.

"We perfectly know how much London is involved, how deeply British forces are involved in working together with Ukraine."

Watch: Russia's ambassador says 'we know how much London is involved'

The Lib Dem leader has just been speaking with broadcasters, and he was asked if he is comfortable with the government's current stance.

Sir Ed Davey replied: "I support the UK government's action to back President ZelenAG百家乐在线官网y and the Ukrainians. They repel the Russian attack on their country. And if anything, Liberal Democrats would like the government to give even more support to Ukraine."

He calls for frozen Russian assets in the UK to be confiscated so that even more support can be given to Ukraine.

Pushed on if more military support should be given, Davey said: "I think the Russian ambassador should listen to British politicians and British people. British people support Ukraine."

He added: "I think, and the Liberal Democrats believe, we should go even further with both military and financial support."

He said he does not believe there is a risk of wider war, and suggested Russia will try and "threaten" it, but "they always back down".

Davey added that he is "never surprised by the Russians, whether it's the ambassador here in the UK or what we hear from the Kremlin spokespeople".

"They just lie every time," he said, and called on the UK and US governments to not "listen to that propaganda" and "back Ukraine as hard as we can".