Volodymyr ZelenAG百家乐在线官网y is in the UK to meet with the King and the prime minister, as Ukraine continues to feel the full force of Russia's war machine. Meanwhile, the government grapples with the fallout from US strikes on Iran.
Monday 23 June 2025 15:41, UK
Foreign Secretary David Lammy has confirmed today that a flight evacuated British citizens from Israel to Cyprus.
He says the group will be brought home "this evening", and more flights will follow.
The foreign secretary, David Lammy, opens his statement with the US airstrikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities on Saturday, and emphasises that the UK was not in any involved in either the US or Israel strikes.
But he goes on to say that the UK "has long had concerns about Iran's nuclear programme", and that it can "never have a nuclear weapon" - a threat the US took action to "alleviate".
"This is a perilous moment in the Middle East," he continues, referencing the "waves of strikes" between the two sides.
He confirms that one British national has been injured in Israel.
The foreign secretary is up in the Commons to update MPs' on what's happening in the Middle East.
It comes following weekend strikes by the US on Iranian nuclear sites, and amid continued attacks between Iran and Israel. British ministers have been calling for restraint and a diplomatic solution.
Watch Lammy's statement live in the stream at the top of this page.
Days after Sir Keir Starmer told Beth that a US strike on Iran wasn't imminent, Donald Trump gave the go-ahead for US bunker buster bombs to hit Iran's nuclear facilities.
The UK's position on the attacks is unclear. The focus is not on what the prime minister is saying 鈥� but what he isn't saying. After a brief interview, it's clear Starmer isn't willing to either endorse the strikes or criticise Trump.
For this extra episode, Beth, Ruth and Harriet discuss the delicate situation the PM finds himself in after a full-blown escalation of the Middle East conflict.
They ask what will be going through the minds of the UK leader and those around him 鈥� and if there are any answers the government can, and will, give in the coming days.
Volodymyr ZelenAG百家乐在线官网y has arrived for his next visit while in the UK - to the Houses of Parliament.
The Ukrainian president was greeted by the Speakers of both the Commons and the Lords.
He got a big hug from Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle, and a handshake from his Lords counterpart, Lord Kohn McFall.
They walked inside Speaker's House where Hoyle said to him: "Welcome home. Because we feel this is your home, whenever you need to come here. We're always available to you."
ZelenAG百家乐在线官网y replied: "I'm very thankful for this visit. And again, my big thanks for your visit to Ukraine, participating in the Bucha Summit [in March]."
He went on to say he is "very thankful for His Majesty", and to the UK government and public for their "big support from the very beginning".
"I hope today to discuss all the important issues, urgent things, which are very important for us."
Hoyle said he will "never forget" his visit to Bucha, meeting people affected by the massacre in March 2022 that saw civilians shot and killed.
"Your people have suffered so much, and they still continue to suffer," he said.
"But the one thing I can always guarantee is the unity of the House of Commons. We are at one in the support of the people of Ukraine."
Ministers have no "moral clarity" over the Israel-Iran conflict, Kemi Badenoch has said.
She added that Attorney General Lord Hermer鈥檚 position has become "untenable", following reports he had concerns about the legality of any attack against Iran.
Speaking at a Policy Exchange event in London, the Conservative leader said: "With regards to the government, I think there is a complete absence of moral clarity and, in fact, moral courage."
She said statements on the conflict were "designed to not upset anybody and not give any views or any information".
"I do think it is quite extraordinary the position they found themselves in where the foreign secretary is unable to say whether or not he believes that the action was lawful," she added.
'The rule of law does not mean a law is good or bad'
Badenoch also hit out at Lord Hermer's "pronouncements" over the legality of strikes on Iran, describing the Labour government as one of "legal fetishism".
She added: "We know that the rule of law does not mean that a particular law is in and of itself good or bad. They're unable to talk about the morality of things.
"And the fact that it looks like they are in this position because of what Lord Hermer says, in my view, makes his position really untenable."
By Rhiannon Mills, royal correspondent
Volodymyr ZelenAG百家乐在线官网y has arrived for lunch at Windsor Castle with the King, ahead of talks with the prime minister later today.
The Ukrainian president arrived for the meeting, which wasn't announced in advance, just after 1pm.
The men have developed a close relationship and met on several occasions, with the King showing support for the president and the people of Ukraine ever since the war began.
The King last met ZelenAG百家乐在线官网y at Sandringham in Norfolk in March, just two days after his bruising encounter with Donald Trump in the Oval Office.
At the time, ZelenAG百家乐在线官网y spoke of how grateful he was for the Royal Family's support. The men first met in 2023 and since then the King has visited Ukrainian troops being trained in Wiltshire.
King's tribute to Ukrainian 'heroism'
In a message to mark two years of the conflict in February 2024, the King wrote: "The determination and strength of the Ukrainian people continues to inspire, as the unprovoked attack on their land, their lives, and livelihoods鈥�
"Despite the tremendous hardship and pain inflicted upon them, Ukrainians continue to show the heroism with which the world associates them so closely.
"Theirs is true valour, in the face of indescribable aggression."
ZelenAG百家乐在线官网y will meet with Keir Starmer later to discuss how allies can increase pressure on Russia, as its attacks on Ukraine continue.
Moscow reportedly fired 352 drones and 16 missiles overnight, killing at least 10 civilians - including seven in Kyiv. ZelenAG百家乐在线官网y has described Russia, North Korea, and Iran as a "coalition of murderers".
The home secretary has announced her intention to proscribe the Palestine Action (PA) protest group.
Yvette Cooper said she would do so under the Terrorism Act - the move would make it illegal to be a member of, or invite support for, PA.
In a written statement ahead of the draft order being put before parliament later, Cooper said she'd made the decision after the "disgraceful attack" on RAF Brize Norton last week.
She described the damage done to several planes at the base as "unacceptable", and had put national security at risk. Police are still investigating the incident, she added.
Cooper said it was the latest step in a "nationwide campaign of direct criminal action against businesses and institutions" by PA, including "key national infrastructure and defence firms" that support Ukraine, NATO, and other military and security alliances.
She insisted the government's terrorism proscription against PA will not impact "lawful protest groups and other organisations campaigning on issues around Palestine or the Middle East".
By Josh Gafson, politics producer
Bullying and sexual misconduct complaints in parliament have risen by over a third in the last year, new figures show.
The annual report by the parliamentary Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme (ICGS) shows a total of 69 complaint cases relating to bullying, harassment and sexual misconduct were opened in the last year - an increase of 35% compared to the previous year.
Of these complaints, the report showed 40% were made by MPs' staff 鈥� which were nearly all related to bullying and harassment.
The ICGS covers all individuals who work across the House of Commons 鈥� including the Commons, Lords, and all other parliamentary staff.
Alcohol 'notably prevalent'
One reason the report gives for the rise in these complaints is related to alcohol 鈥� which the watchdog say was a factor in almost one out of every five complaints investigated between April 2023 and March 2025.
Alcohol was also cited as "notably prevalent" in complaints relating specifically to sexual misconduct, with individuals accused of inappropriate and unwanted touching within the parliamentary estate.
The ICGS director said due to the "notable increase" in the number of people contacting them, the timeframe of cases being investigated has increased - meaning longer wait times for the complainants.
Despite an independent review of the ICGS finding the watchdog is "making a difference", the rapid rise in these reports will be seen as worrying for those trying to raise standards within parliament, and improve its workplace culture.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting has today announced a national investigation into maternity care, to be delivered by Christmas.
Our health correspondent Ashish Joshi described it as a "powerful speech", with Streeting "clearly troubled by the scandalous state of maternity services in this country".
Ashish writes:
Streeting has spent the past year meeting bereaved families who have been failed by the NHS.
He said he "was kept up at night" after listening to their harrowing testimonies.
This review is modelled on the Darzi report into the NHS, commissioned by the health secretary almost as soon as he came into office.
It will be "rapid". The terms of reference for the investigation will be known by July; the report is expected to be published by Christmas.
Streeting accepts this is an ambitious timeline but is driven by the fear that mothers and babies are still being failed, and he does not want "any deaths on his watch".
And he has not ruled out a future public inquiry, which is what the bereaved families have been demanding.
Could this have been done sooner?
The biggest challenge for the health secretary will be to change the culture within maternity units. This has been identified as one of the biggest issues in previous reports by Bill Kirkup and Donna Ockenden.
It's why, Streeting said, he chose to make his announcement today at the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists' World Congress Day.
What he said would have made for uncomfortable listening for some delegates, but he needs them on board to deliver on his promise to make maternity and neon natal care safe.
The health secretary clearly has empathy. He has listened to the families torn apart by maternity failings.
But if there is any criticism of his action, it is that it could have been taken sooner - up to six months ago. The failures across maternity services up and down the country have been known about for a long time.
