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Politics latest: PM urges 'all parties to step back' after Israel strikes Iran nuclear sites

The prime minister has called on "all parties" to reduce tensions urgently, following Israel attacking a number of sites in Iran.

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PM: 'We urge all parties to step back and reduce tensions urgently'

The prime minister has called on "all parties" to reduce tensions, after Israel launched a series of airstrikes on nuclear sites in Iran. 

Sir Keir Starmer said: "The reports of these strikes are concerning and we urge all parties to step back and reduce tensions urgently. 

"Escalation serves no one in the region. 

"Stability in the Middle East must be the priority and we are engaging partners to de-escalate. 

"Now is the time for restraint, calm and a return to diplomacy."

Good morning and happy Friday.

Welcome back to the Politics Hub - it's one of those rare cursed days, a Friday 13th. Let's hope politicians keep their fingers crossed so that nothing unlucky happens. 

Now, onto the day's news.

First up, parliament will spend much of today talking of all things assisted dying - though there will be no crunch vote. 

MPs will be debating the End of Life (Terminally Ill Adults) Bill introduced by Labour backbencher, Kim Leadbeater.

Today is all about amendments, meaning most of the action will be quite technical. 

Among the changes MPs are hoping to introduce is one opposed by Leadbeater, which would ban health professionals from raising assisted dying with those under-18. 

Today's changes will help shape the final look of the bill when it goes to its Third Reading next Friday, where it's expected MPs will then vote on whether to make it law.

Remember, the bill passed its second reading with a majority of 55, but it would take just 28 MPs to switch their mind for this all to be game over.

Sky News' political correspondent Liz Bates also says she understands that 20 MPs have already switched their positions - in both directions - meaning the bill's future is not certain.

Away from the Commons, Kemi Badenoch is addressing the Scottish Conservatives this morning where she will pledge to remove the windfall tax on oil and gas, scrap the ban on new licences and overturn a ban on supporting oil and gas technology experts.

The Tory leader has been accused by Greenpeace of "parroting" Reform and of being "out of touch".

In court today: The 15 people charged with betting on the date of the 2024 General Election, including Craig Williams (Rishi Sunak's former aide), Jeremy Hunt (the former police officer - not the ex-chancellor) and Russell George (a Tory Senedd member). They'll be at Westminster Magistrates' Court.

Also in court: Laurence Fox, who is appearing at Croydon Crown Court after he was charged with encouraging people to destroy ULEZ cameras. He pleaded not guilty at a previous hearing.

Also a court thing: The High Court is expected to rule on a legal challenge to VAT being imposed on school fees by the Labour government.

And finally: The government has gone green - promising to create thousands of jobs in clean energy in Scotland, and pledging to install 100,000 new on-street electric vehicle charge points by 2030.

Coming up on Sky News: 

  • Sarah Jones, the industry minister;
  • Richard Holden, the shadow paymaster general.

As ever, we will bring you all the updates throughout the day, right here on the Politics Hub.

It's goodnight from the Politics Hub

Here are the main things you need to know before we go:

  • The Institute for Fiscal Studies has warned Rachel Reeves is a "gnat's whisker" away from having to raise taxes in the autumn budget;
  • The economic thinktank said the "sting in the tail" in the chancellor's spending review is they assume council tax will go up by the maximum amount across the UK, but there could yet be more to come;
  • Rachel Reeves insisted to Sky News her plans are "fully funded" by her previous budget and spring statement:
  • The chancellor's day didn't get off to the best of starts, as new economic growth figures cast a shadow over her spending review;
  • They show the economy shrank by 0.3% in April, more than expected, although this was largely driven by uncertainty over Donald Trump's tariffs;
  • Nonetheless, economics and business correspondent Gurpreet Narwan said the figures showed the economy was stuck in a "painful feedback loop".

That's all for today - thank you for joining us.

We'll be back tomorrow with live coverage of the next debate in parliament's ongoing assisted dying debate.

Follow live updates on India plane crash

For continued live coverage of the India plane crash today, follow our dedicated blog below:

MP's constituents in 'extreme distress' over India plane crash

Labour's Warinder Juss MPhas a large Indian community in his Wolverhampton West constituency.

He tells Sophy Ridge "everybody is still in shock" about today's plane crash and it's "very difficult to comprehend exactly what happened".

"We need to find out what caused this accident," he says, but for now people are simply in "extreme distress".

'We need to find out what happened'

He says he would "fully support" Tory MP Shivana Raja in her efforts to seek answers from Air India and aviation authorities (see previous post).

"Aeroplanes do sadly on occasion crash," adds Juss, "but it's meant to be the safest form of transport.

"We need to find out exactly what happened."

MP had previously been on flight which crashed

Shivani Raja is the Conservative MP for Leicester East. The British passenger of the Indian air crash who survived lives in her constituency.

Speaking to Sophy Ridge, Raja shares that the flight - from Ahmedabad to Gatwick - is quite popular with her constituents.

The MP says she has a big Indian community in her constituency.

She tells Sophy: "This flight route in particular is very popular amongst my constituents, I've used it personally on many occasions

"My family use it and my constituents use it. So it really did hit close to home."

'I will raise questions with airline and authorities'

Today was the first ever crash of a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, according to the Aviation Safety Network database.

The model, a widebody, twin-engine plane, has made five million journeys in the 14 years since its first passenger flight.

Raga adds: "I absolutely will be raising questions with Air India and the [UK Civil Aviation Authority] and the Indian authorities, regarding the safety measures of this aircraft," she adds.

Our science correspondent Thomas Moore said investigators and airlines alike will want to establish quickly whether today's crash was a one-off or a sign of problems:

Politics Hub With Sophy Ridge is live

Our usual weeknight politics programme is not being broadcast in the usual way tonight, owing to our rolling coverage of today's plane crash in India.

But Sophy will be speaking to two MPs with deep connections to India: Labour's Warinder Juss, MP for Wolverhampton West, and the Conservative MP for Leicester East Shivana Raja.

Watch live in the stream below:

"Can you imagine 360 random people suddenly taking over government?"

Kemi Badenoch there, perhaps unwittingly calling into question the entire concept of voting people into office.

The Tory leader was speaking at a FTSE 250+ conference in London, hailing her party as the only one business could trust.

Labour will only deliver "managed decline", she said, and Nigel Farage's Reform offers nothing but a "scam".

He has "no experience of legislating", ex-minister Badenoch said. 

"He's never in parliament, let alone government," she added, telling business leaders governing is "unbelievably difficult".

Reform only have five MPs and would need hundreds more to be elected across the country to win power. You need 326 for a majority. 

They are, though, leading the polls.

Badenoch asked: "How many of you would allow your businesses to be run by people who have never been in that business and say 'come on in, I'm sure you can fix it?'

"That's what he's offering, it's not real."

Investigation into India crash will 'take some time', says Starmer

We've just had a statement from the prime minister on the plane crash in India - the aircraft had been bound for Gatwick.

Sir Keir Starmer said his thoughts are with those impacted by the "devastating" incident.

He confirmed a team of UK investigators have been sent to India, and the UK is in constant contact with Indian authorities.

Starmer said Foreign Secretary David Lammy is heading up the UK's involvement in the investigation, which will take "some time".

Sky News understands Lammy has chaired a COBRA meeting today.

Starmer also urged the families and friends of anyone affected to contact the Foreign Office.

Asked about the British survivor, as reported by Sky News, the PM said "we're still establishing the facts".

Politics Hub With Sophy Ridge will not be broadcast in the usual way tonight, owing to our rolling coverage of today's plane crash in India.

Sophy will still be presenting from 7pm, and will be speaking to two British MPs with deep connections to India.

Joining her are Labour's Warinder Juss, MP for Wolverhampton West, and the Conservative MP for Leicester East Shivana Raja.