We're closing down the Politics Hub for another day.
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Rachel Reeves tells Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips the UK is increasing its presence in the Middle East is to protect its "important assets" there.
Sunday 15 June 2025 16:06, UK
We're closing down the Politics Hub for another day.
Join us again in the morning for all the latest politics news as it happens.
Sir Keir Starmer went out for dinner with Canada's Mark Carney last night.
During what was surely an enthralling conversation between the former director of public prosecutions and Bank of England governor, the pair tucked into the usually gourmet spread with a symbolic twist supplied to world leaders.
According to the prime minister's spokesperson, the menu included a pastry containing British Columbian mushrooms and a Canadian cheese called grey owl, followed by a beef tenderloin with Ontario red wine sauce, and a maple syrup tartlet for dessert
The eagle-eyed/political obsessives might notice something about this.
Sir Keir Starmer doesn't eat meat.
While he has not completely sworn off flesh - he eats fish and has shared an anecdote about eating chicken in a pinch - a steak is not a part of his usual diet.
It's since been clarified that a Starmer-friendly seared halibut with a terrine of potato, celeriac and leek, and Canadian Le Coprin mushrooms was also on offer.
It's been a while since we've heard much about HS2, the glacial high-speed rail project, after it came under intense criticism by Rishi Sunak.
It now seems the Labour government might be looking to make more political capital from the way the project has been managed.
A senior Whitehall source told Sky News that a review by chief executive Mark Wild is "looking under the bonnet" - and Wild is "not liking what he is finding".
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander is set to make a statement this week on the project - although the exact date this will take place is not clear.
The source said the minister will highlight "ministerial mismanagement", a "lack of ministerial oversight" and an organisation that is "not fit for purpose".
Fraud investigation
It comes as HS2 Ltd reported one of its subcontractors to HMRC after an internal fraud investigation.
A spokesperson said: "We treat all whistleblower allegations seriously and are continuing to conduct our own investigation.
"Furthermore, HS2 Ltd has formally reported the allegations to HMRC, and we encourage anyone who believes they may have relevant information, which could support our inquiries, to report it in confidence via HS2's Speak Out channels."
The UK is sending assets to the Middle East - but what is going and where are they defending.
Our military analyst Sean Bell breaks it all down in the video below.
By Ben Bloch, political reporter
The government is warning people not to travel to Israel under any circumstances, as the country's missile exchange with Iran shows no sign of abating.
On Friday, the Foreign Office warned against "all but essential travel" to most of Israel.
The areas around Gaza, the West Bank and the Golan Heights were already classed as red zones, with warnings to avoid travel to these areas.
But the government has now updated the warning for the remainder of the country to red.
This puts Israel on the same level as Iran, and the change of advice is also likely to impact travel insurance.
However, with Israel's airspace closed, it is unlikely many people will be attempting the journey, and Israel's national airline El Al has announced it is cancelling flights to and from many European cities, as well as Tokyo and Moscow, until 23 June.
The change in travel advice comes after a second night of ballistic missile barrages from Iran following Israel's attack in the early hours of Friday morning.
A watch-list for potential ministerial resignations over Labour's welfare reforms is in place, Harriet Harman says.
Speaking to Sky News political editor Beth Rigby on the Electoral Dysfunction podcast, Baroness Harman reckons there could be resignations over the matter.
While this week's spending review was taking up most of the headlines, the government told their MPs that controversial reforms to disability benefits would go ahead.
The measures - headed up by Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall - have proved mightily unpopular in Labour circles.
More than 100 MPs from government benches are thought to have concerns about the plans to cut nearly 拢5bn from the welfare bill by restricting personal independence payments (PIP) and the health top-up to Universal Credit.
Spiralling welfare costs, particularly in the wake of the pandemic, have been singled out as an area where the government could save money.
Sir Keir Starmer has said he wants more people returning to the "dignity" of work.
Asked by Beth if resignations could be on the cards, Baroness Harman said: "There might be. But I don't think, not cabinet."
She added: "There is people on a watch list at the moment, but not cabinet ministers."
On Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips, former foreign secretary Lord Philip Hammond gave his thoughts on the situation in the Middle East.
He reckons there is now no chance of a new nuclear deal in Iran, and Israel was opposed to one in the first place.
Watch below to see what he said.
With the announcement from the government of a national inquiry into grooming gangs, Sky News spoke to Paul Waugh, the Rochdale MP.
He was asked if ethnicity should be part of the probe, an idea that has previously been criticised.
"Absolutely," Waugh says.
"No racial group, no councillor, no police officer, no social worker - no one should be immune from the harsh spotlight of transparency on this.
"That's what I think this inquiry can do. It can find the facts."
Waugh says they want to ensure that "there's no one that can hide from any sense that there's been a cover-up anywhere".
He adds:" We'll hunt them down, we'll make sure they are held accountable.
"I think that's what my constituents want, it's what most of the public want."
Speaking to reporters on his trip to the G7 in Canada, Sir Keir Starmer has reiterated his support for a two-state solution.
He says it is still the only way to peace.
The prime minister was asked about a conference on Palestinian statehood that is now no longer going ahead.
Starmer said: "Our position on recognition of Palestine as part of the process hasn't changed for us.
"I hold very strongly to the belief that the only long term solution to the conflict in the Middle East is a two-state solution.
"However hard that may seem at the moment in the current circumstances, that is the only way to peace.
"So that continues to be our position."