Politics latest: Tory mayor Ben Houchen hits out at 'chaos' in party - as Cameron warns UK faces 'dangerous world' (2024)

ByEd Conway, economics and data editor

The Bank of England has edged closer to a cut in interest rates, with another member of its nine-person Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) voting for lower borrowing costs this month.

While the MPC voted 7-2 to leave UK interest rates on hold at 5.25%, the change in the vote will be seen as a further sign that they could be coming down soon - perhaps as soon as next month.

Alongside its rate decision, the Bank published new forecasts for the UK economy, which show that gross domestic product is projected to be stronger this year and unemployment and inflation rates lower than previously expected.

It said that the CPI rate of inflation was likely to drop to its 2% target imminently - though it would bounce a little higher afterwards.

Governor Andrew Bailey said: "We've had encouraging news on inflation and we think it will fall close to our 2% target in the next couple of months. We need to see more evidence that inflation will stay low before we can cut interest rates. I'm optimistic that things are moving in the right direction."

You can read more in our Money blog here:

Taking questions from the media, Lord Cameron is asked about the defection of ex-Conservative MP Natalie Elphicke to Labour.

He claims this says more about the Labour Party than the Tories.

"In life, if you don't stand for something, you will fall for anything," he says.

"I think that's what yesterday showed.

"When you get close to an election it stops being a referendum on the government, it starts being a choice between two parties.

"I think yesterday, you wake up and hear about a defection, and you think 'Oh no, not another one. How are we going to handle this?'

"By the end of the day, it said so much more about Keir Starmer and the Labour Party having a complete lack of a plan."

Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron has delivered a speech on the UK's national security at theNational Cyber Security Centre.

In his first major speech as foreign secretary, he called on Britain and its allies to "out-compete, out-cooperate and out-innovate" their adversaries in an ongoing "battle of wills".

Here are the main points from his speech:

• Lord Cameron says it is the UK's "security" and "prosperity" that guide his actions as foreign secretary;
• He adds: "This is a world more dangerous, more volatile, more confrontational than most of us have ever known - and we need to face up to that fact, and act accordingly";
• The minister says this action needs to happen "now". He adds: "My conviction is that we, with our partners, can choose to make a difference";
• In order to "rise to the challenge that we face", Lord Cameron says the UK needs to "make security a top priority";
• He goes on to point to attacks from China on the Electoral Commission, cyber attacks on members of parliament, and an attempted "sabotage attack" on a warehouse in London last week;
• His second point, he says, is that the UK "needs to be bold in standing up for what we believe in". He adds: "It is profoundly within our national interest to defend our core beliefs";
• "We in the West need to underline and expose the malign networks that Russia uses to spread its lies," the minister adds;
• He also says the UK needs to "adopt a harder edge for a tougher world". We "need to be tougher and more assertive", he says;
• "We need to have a good dose of realism", Lord Cameron adds, while warning: "We can't afford to be naive" and stressing the need to be "ruthlessly practical";
• The UK is not going to sign free trade deals "for the sugar rush of the press release", he says;
• Lord Cameron alsotouts the recent UK commitment to build up to spending 2.5% of GDP on defence and said this should be a new benchmark for NATO allies.

Edward Isaacs, the president of the Union of Jewish Students, has urged universities to take "decisive action" to support Jewish students in the UK.

He was speaking moments after attending a meeting in Downing Street chaired by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, and attended by university vice-chancellors.

They were invited to address the rise in antisemitic abuse on campus and disruption to students' learning.

Jewish students have said they face a "toxic" environment as a growing number of pro-Palestine encampments are set up at universities in response to the Israel-Hamas conflict.

Mr Issacs said: "The prime minister was very clear that antisemitism has no place on campuses.

"For the last seven months Jewish students have suffered a torrent of abuse, of antisemitic hatred on campus.

"Jewish students have received death threats, Jewish students have been victims of physical assault and so much more.

"I'm very grateful that vice-chancellors took the time to come to Downing Street today, but ultimately we need to see any commitments made today followed by swift action.

"We are very clear - universities need to draw their red lines, and universities need to take decisive action to support Jewish students."

Over a year ago, Rishi Sunak made five pledges for voters to judge him on.

The prime minister met his promise to halve inflation by the end of 2023.

But with the general election approaching, how is Mr Sunak doing on delivering his other promises?

You can see the progress for yourself below:

Rishi Sunak has met with university bosses in Downing Street to call on them to take a "zero tolerance" approach to antisemitism.

The prime minister invited vice-chancellors of leading universities for a meeting to address the rise in antisemitic abuse on campus and disruption to students' learning.

Jewish students have said they face a "toxic" environment as a growing number of Pro-Palestine encampments are set up at universities in response to the Israel-Hamas conflict.

While there has not been violent scenes like those seen in the US, the Union of Jewish Students (UJS) has warned the rhetoric emanating from these encampments "is increasing in hostility" - and called on university leaders to do more to keep Jewish students safe.

Representatives from the UJS were also in attendance.

The size of the waiting list for routine hospital treatment in England was unchanged in March, following five consecutive monthly falls.

An estimated 7.54 million treatments were waiting to be carried out at the end of March, relating to 6.29 million patients, the same numbers as in February, NHS England said.

The list hit a record high in September 2023 with 7.77 million treatments and 6.50 million patients.

Meanwhile, the number of people waiting more than 12 hours in A&E departments in England from a decision to admit to actually being admitted was 42,078 in April, down slightly from 42,968 in March, NHS figures show.

The record high for a calendar month is 54,573, which occurred in December 2022.

The number waiting at least four hours from the decision to admit to admission fell from 140,181 in March to 134,344 in April.

Some 74.4% of patients in England were seen within four hours in A&Es last month, up from 74.2% in March and the highest figure since April 2023.

The NHS recovery plan set a target of March this year for 76% of patients attending A&E to be admitted, transferred or discharged within four hours.

By Alix Culbertson, political reporter

MPs have warned about an increasing shortage of vets due to post-Brexit visa and food security requirements.

A scarcity of vets poses a danger to protecting animal and human health, the UK's £4.2m meat, dairy and egg export trade, and guaranteeing animal welfare and food security, according to a letter from Tory MP Sir Robert Goodwill, chair of the environment, food and rural affairs committee.

The letter to Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Secretary Steve Barclay calls for more funding for veterinary degrees, higher salaries for public health vet roles and a reduction in the minimum salary required to obtain a skilled visa for overseas vets.

MPs on the committee spoke to veterinary sector leaders in March and said the shortage of vets has worsened since a reduction of 11.5% in 2018, however, due to a lack of data "we have no clear picture of the scale or nature of the shortages".

They said a shortage is of particular concern as due to Brexit there are more biosecurity measures for animals coming into the UK, food and animal certification has changed and it is harder to recruit vets from overseas.

You can read more from Sky News below:

Tees Valley mayor Ben Houchen has hit out at the "chaos" in the Tory party and said responsibility "ultimately lies with Rishi (Sunak)".

His victory was one of the few bright spots for the Conservatives in an otherwise dismal set of local elections last week.

But he told BBC Radio Tees: "Things don't look great for the Conservative party at the moment."

He said: "There is still a way through but that way through is getting narrower by the day."

Asked if Mr Sunak was to blame, Lord Houchen said: "There's lots of people fighting with each other in the Conservative Party, there are defections going on and ultimately the public do not vote for parties who are not united and are not presenting a united front and also aren't talking to the public.

"If they're fighting with each other like rats in a sack instead of saying to the public 'this is what we're going to do for you', that doesn't win elections.

"Obviously, it ultimately lies with Rishi but there are lots of people that need to get their act together, stop messing about and start talking to the public about what they can offer them, rather than just fighting with each other."