Half of Labour voters ‘let down’ by Starmer, Jenrick makes centre vow – live

So cautious and moderate was former immigration minister Robert Jenrick when he entered the Commons that he was nicknamed “Robert Generic”.

Yet now 10 years later, he has reached the final two of the 2024 Conservative Party leadership campaign in a battle against Kemi Badenoch to become the champion of the Tory hard-right – but it all was very different when he was first elected.

You can read the full story below:

Patrick Hurley, representing Southport, has launched a campaign aimed at reducing the price of Freddo chocolate bars to 5p.

The move follows discussions with students at a local school who expressed their concerns about the rising cost of living.

Taking to social media, Mr Hurley said: “20 pence for a Freddo is too much, especially in a cost of living crisis.

“The girls were very clued-up about political issues, including assisted dying and the Middle East.”

The Labour MP said he didn’t think the campaign would succeed but branded the petition as a “lovely, little whimsical, light-hearted thing we can do” that could help engage young people in politics.

He added: “If you start talking about gas bills, the average 14-year-old might switch off, but if you talk about the price of chocolate bars.”

To avoid a return to austerity, the chancellor must find £25bn a year without cutting deep into departmental spending. If only we could rejoin the single market or customs union, says John Rentoul:

The prime minister has met with Northern Ireland’s First Minister Michelle O’Neill and her deputy Emma Little-Pengelly during the inaugural Council of Nations and Regions in Edinburgh.

This meeting comes amid growing concerns from Northern Irish leaders following the government’s announcement last month that it would pause four city and growth deals in the area.

It later emerged that the Belfast and the Londonderry and Strabane deals would not be affected because those were at a later stage.

However, two other deals, which cover Causeway Coast and Glens and the Mid South West region, are awaiting the conclusion of Labour’s spending review to hear whether the funding pause will be lifted.

The deals, which advance investment and infrastructure projects in specific areas, involve bespoke funding arrangements between the Treasury, the Stormont Executive and local partners.

Asked about the issue in Edinburgh, Sir Keir said: “We talked about city deals, we talked about growth, we talked about energy, we talked about the opportunities we have to work together to deliver across Northern Ireland.

“That’s the sort of collaboration, sleeves rolled up, working together across Northern Ireland people want to see more of.”

During a press conference following the inaugural meeting of the Council of Nations and Regions, Sir Keir Starmer faced scrutiny over potential funding for Welsh rail infrastructure.

When pressed about whether Wales would receive its fair share of funding for the HS2 high-speed rail project, Sir Keir repeatedly refused to say whether the Welsh government would get its share of funding for the HS2 high-speed rail line.

The Welsh First Minister has described the country as being “shortchanged” on rail funding.

The prime minister was asked twice if the UK government would give Wales the cash.

Speaking to reporters, he said: “We’ve had a very successful first meeting of the Council of Nations and Regions and the First Minister of Wales was here with me, and we had a really good discussion about how we could harness the joint working of both governments.

“Working together on investment, on collaboration and making sure that we’ve got real investment in the jobs of the future across Wales.”

The UK government has referred itself to the data protection watchdog after mistakenly sharing the personal email address of Bernard Arnault, one of the world’s richest men.

In an embarrassing slip-up ahead of a major investment summit, the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) apologised for the “human error” that led to the blunder.

Mr Arnault, founder of luxury giant LVMH, with a net worth of £139 billion, is among other high-profile business leaders who have seen their contacts exposed in the email.

The DBT confirmed the breach had been reported to the Information Commissionaire’s office (ICO).

In a statement, they said: “This was caused by an administrative human error, and we apologise to those affected.

“We take data protection very seriously, and we have referred this issue to the Information Commissioner’s Office.”

The French tycoon is set to attend next week’s International Investment Summit in London next week alongside other 300 global industry figures.

Scottish First Minister John Swinney has described his discussions with Sir Keir Starmer as “constructive” following the inaugural meeting of the prime minister’s Council of the Nations and Regions in Edinburgh.

Mr Swinney, who has been a vocal critic of the previous Tory government’s handling of devolved relations, welcomed the change in tone from Westminster.

He said previous relations with Westminster had been “absolutely shocking” and he welcomed Sir Keir’s efforts to improve things. 

He told broadcasters: “It was a constructive discussion. Obviously, there is a determined effort underway by the prime minister to improve relationships with the previous United Kingdom government that were absolutely shocking and dysfunctional.

“So I welcome the progress that has been made. It is important that we have a forum in which we can put forward serious points about the future of Scotland.”

Kemi Badenoch’s leadership bid has a “star quality” that puts her ahead of Robert Jenrick, former chancellor George Osborne has said.

In his Political Currency podcast, Mr Osborne said that Ms Badenoch’s appeal resonated more with the Conservative grassroots, even as she narrowly topped the most recent vote by just a single ballot.

He said: “When [Kemi Badenoch] says she’s the next Mrs T, is it Mrs Thatcher or Mrs Truss? That’s the thing her critics say. I would think she’s the current favourite. She emerged only by one vote top of the poll.

“She probably has the more kind of star quality and may get more of the Conservative press back, but Jenrick has run a better campaign than hers.”