James Cleverly in Commons to answer questions on Israel and Gaza conflictJames Cleverly is in the Commons answering questions on the conflict in Israel and Gaza.
Cleverly visited Egypt, Turkey and Qatar, while the prime minister spent a day in Israel – before touring the Middle East himself.
Ahead of his appearance, the foreign secretary gave a short statement:
Since Hamas’ brutal terror attacks on the 7 October the prime minister and I have visited the region and spoken and met with counterparts totalling almost 20 countries as part of our extensive diplomatic activities to prevent escalation, to sustain the prospect of regional peace and of course to secure the free movement home of British nationals in Gaza and of course those hostages.
Cleverly was asked about the use of UK aid money, and reiterated that no money goes to the “Palestinian authorities”.
The minister was then asked about the prospects of a two-state solution.
He said:
Despite the terrible circumstances that we are experiencing there is a renewed desire to have a meaningful resolution.
Key events
No 10 said ministers were continuing to speak with “leaders in the region” as part of efforts to free hostages from Gaza but would not say whether there had been direct communication with Hamas or proxies in Qatar or Egypt.
The prime minister’s official spokesman told reporters:
It is not in the interest of the individuals themselves to get into more details, so I won’t.
I think some of the discussion does involve speaking to leaders in the regions and governments’ agents with influence on the situation.
But, beyond that, I don’t think it is helpful to say any more.
Rishi Sunak’s spokesman said the UK government could not speculate on why some captives were being released, with four freed by Hamas in recent days:
The circumstances will vary and, as I think the Israeli government has said, there are more than 200 individuals believed to be held hostage, so I wouldn’t seek to give a view for why individual hostages are being released. I will leave that to others.
No British aid money goes directly to the Palestinian Authority, James Cleverly has said, as a Tory backbencher condemned the payment of “so-called martyr salaries”.
The Conservative MP Chris Clarkson told the Commons:
It’s been reported that the Palestinian Authority is to pay up to three million dollars a month in so-called martyr salaries to the families of dead and captured Hamas terrorists.
Will [the foreign secretary] join me in condemning these payments to rapists, torturers, murderers, some of whom have killed Brits? And will he also use his good offices to ensure that no British aid money has gone towards this filthy practice?
Cleverly said:
I can reassure him that we always ensure that UK aid money is protected from misappropriation, and I can confirm to him and the House that no British aid money goes directly to the Palestinian Authority.
We have raised this very issue with the Palestinian Authority and highlighted our belief that this is not conducive to good relations and a future two-state solution.
Downing Street looked to “clarify” after a Treasury minister said as many as six British nationals are among the Hamas hostages.
The financial secretary to the treasury, Victoria Atkins, told Sky News on Tuesday that the “latest figure” she had been given was that “there are suspected to be six British nationals” being held in Gaza.
The prime minister’s official spokesman told reporters:
To clarify, as I think the minister did herself later on, we can confirm at least 12 British nationals were tragically killed in last week’s terrorist attacks.
A further five British nationals are missing.
It is understood that some of those who are missing may not have survived the attack by the Palestinian militants on 7 October, meaning fewer than six Britons were captured.
The No 10 spokesman said he could “not be more specific” on the number of UK nationals that the government considers could be in the hands of Hamas.
James Cleverly in Commons to answer questions on Israel and Gaza conflictJames Cleverly is in the Commons answering questions on the conflict in Israel and Gaza.
Cleverly visited Egypt, Turkey and Qatar, while the prime minister spent a day in Israel – before touring the Middle East himself.
Ahead of his appearance, the foreign secretary gave a short statement:
Since Hamas’ brutal terror attacks on the 7 October the prime minister and I have visited the region and spoken and met with counterparts totalling almost 20 countries as part of our extensive diplomatic activities to prevent escalation, to sustain the prospect of regional peace and of course to secure the free movement home of British nationals in Gaza and of course those hostages.
Cleverly was asked about the use of UK aid money, and reiterated that no money goes to the “Palestinian authorities”.
The minister was then asked about the prospects of a two-state solution.
He said:
Despite the terrible circumstances that we are experiencing there is a renewed desire to have a meaningful resolution.
A press conference with family members of British-Israeli kidnap victims is due to start at the Israeli embassy in London.
You can watch it live here:
Family members British-Israeli Hamas hostages hold press conference in London – watch live
Sally Weale
Gillian Keegan has written to schools in England ordering them to make the materials used in children’s sex education available to be seen by parents, warning headteachers there can be “no ifs, no buts, no more excuses”.
It is the second letter the education secretary has sent to schools on the issue, which has been seized upon by some backbench Conservative MPs amid claims that children are being exposed to inappropriate material during relationships, sex and health education (RSHE) at school.
The secretary of state first wrote in March after reports that some schools were being prevented from sharing curriculum resources provided by a third party with parents because of warnings over copyright.
The latest ultimatum to schools – many of which are closed for half-term – said companies providing RSHE teaching resources could not and should not use copyright law to prevent schools from sharing materials. Any attempt to do so would be unenforceable and void, she added.
Read more here:
Peers have continued their stand-off with the government in demanding steps to enable councillors to attend meetings virtually, as they had done during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The House of Lords backed by 208 to 199 a move by a Tory backbencher to create a ministerial power that would allow local authorities to reinstate hybrid working. This is despite a similar call having already been rejected by MPs, PA News reports.
The latest defeat in the upper chamber to the levelling-up and regeneration bill means a continuation of the tussle over the draft legislation, known as parliamentary ping-pong, where it gets batted between MPs and the Lords until agreement is reached.
It comes as the clock ticks down with parliament expected to rise this Thursday for the end of the parliamentary session, a period known as prorogation, ahead of the King’s speech early next month.
However, the government succeeded in seeing off other bids to change the bill, including an attempt to ensure key levelling up goals take into account tackling child poverty and health disparities, and opening the door for district councils to be full members of new combined county authorities (CCAs).
MP stopped before boarding flight to Canada ‘because his name was Mohammad’, parliament toldAn MP was stopped before boarding a flight to Canada “because his name was Mohammad”, parliament has heard.
The Labour MP for Bedford, Mohammad Yasin, was due to fly to Canada with a group of other MPs from the Commons levelling up, housing and communities committee when he was delayed for extra questioning, PA news reports.
Yasin was asked if he was carrying a knife or any other weapon and where he was born when he was taken aside by officials from Air Canada.
He underwent similar questioning from officials on his return trip to the UK, MPs were told.
Clive Betts, the Labour chair of the committee, raised the incident in the Commons and said he would write to the Canadian high commissioner in the UK to make clear the “racist and Islamophobic nature” of what happened was unacceptable.
Yasin watched from the Labour backbenches as Betts raised a point of order about the “serious incident”, which he said occurred last week.
The committee chairman said:
When the committee checked in for their flights at Heathrow, all members got through with the exception of the member for Bedford, who was delayed for questioning for a considerable period.
He was told it was because his name was Mohammad.
Betts added:
He was also asked whether he was carrying a knife, or other offensive weapon, he was also asked where he was born. The questioning was undertaken by officials from Air Canada and we believe the Canadian government, and despite him already having been given a visa to enter Canada.
After proving he was an MP with the help of my committee clerk, he was eventually allowed through.
At Montreal airport, the same issues were raised by Canadian immigration.
On return at Toronto airport on the way back, he was again challenged and got on his flight with the assistance of my consul general, who was very helpful.
Betts went on:
He has received apologies from the parliamentary secretary to the Canadian minister for immigration and Air Canada, however, given the racist and Islamophobic nature of these challenges, I believe that it is worth writing to the Canadian high commissioner, which I will do.
I believe it is important to put these concerns on the parliamentary record. It was completely unacceptable for a Member of this House to be treated in this way.
But because he was an MP he was allowed on his flight. If, however, he had been one of our constituents who had been so challenged, he might have been refused.
We raised the issue with our high commissioner in Ottawa, who was very supportive, and amazed at what happened given the multicultural nature of Canada as an open and welcoming country.
She has raised it with the Canadian government, and … I would also raise it in parliament to try and ensure that no-one in the future is treated in this way.
A spokesperson for Air Canada said:
Unfortunately Mr Yasin was designated for additional screening prior to his flight after a security check, but he was still able to travel as planned as he was quickly cleared.
We are following up internally the handling of this particular matter to ensure procedures were properly followed and we have also been in touch with UK and Canadian authorities.
We regret any inconvenience or upset this situation may have created for Mr Yasin and have reached out to apologise.
Patrick Butler
More than 1 million children experienced destitution last year – meaning their families could not afford to adequately feed, clothe or clean them, or keep them warm – according to a major study which reveals an explosion of extreme poverty in the UK.
Severe material hardship was “no longer a rare occurrence”, the study found, with rates of destitution more than doubling in the past five years as a result of benefit cuts and cost of living pressures, leaving struggling households increasingly reliant on regular charity handouts.
Poverty campaigners, teachers and frontline welfare workers have expressed growing alarm about the damaging effects of destitution, particularly on children, including physical ill health, undernourishment, mental illness, social isolation, school absences and poor classroom behaviour.
An estimated 1.8m UK households containing nearly 3.8 million people, including 1 million children, were destitute at some point in 2022, according to the study, published by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF). Half of destitute households tried to get by on less than £85 a week after housing costs, with a quarter reporting no income at all.
A government spokesperson said:
Our number one priority is driving down inflation because that will help everyone’s money go further.
There are 1.7 million fewer people in absolute poverty than in 2010, including 400,000 fewer children, but we know some families are struggling, which is why we are providing support worth an average of £3,300 a household, including raising benefits by over 10% this year, and are increasing the national living wage again.
To help people out of poverty through work, we are also investing £3.5bn to help thousands into jobs and are removing barriers for parents with the biggest ever expansion of free childcare – providing 30 free hours of childcare for working parents and support for children from nine months old to when they start school. This will save eligible parents up to an average of £6,500 a year.
Read the full story here:
Six British nationals are suspected to be among those currently held hostage by Hamas, a minister has said.
The financial secretary to the Treasury, Victoria Atkins, told Sky News:
It’s a very, very fast-moving situation but the latest figure I’ve been given is that there are suspected to be six British nationals. They are our absolute priority.
Asked whether they were missing or being held hostage, she said:
We understand … that they are hostages.
I do acknowledge that it’s a very fast-moving situation and that figure may or may not change, and I know how difficult that must be for the families and the friends at home here in the UK who are grappling with incredible worry and concern about their loved ones.
Rishi Sunak to hold weekly cabinet meeting, with situation in Gaza and Israel expected to top agenda
Nicola Slawson
Rishi Sunak will hold his weekly cabinet meeting today where the situation in Gaza and Israel is expected to be top of the agenda.
The Foreign Office has pledged to “continue to work tirelessly” to secure the release of further hostages after a British citizen confirmed her mother had been freed by Hamas.
Yocheved Lifshitz was handed over by the Palestinian militants, along with fellow Israeli citizen Nurit Cooper, on Monday evening.
Her London-based daughter Sharone Lifschitz told the BBC her father was still being held captive in the Gaza strip.
The FCDO said the department welcomed the release of the hostages, three days after an American woman and her teenage daughter were let go.
A spokeswoman said:
Our thoughts remain with the families of loved ones still being held captive, as they endure unimaginable anguish and worry at this time.
We will continue to work tirelessly with Qatar, Israel and others to ensure all hostages come home safely.
Grant Shapps is in the Middle East this week. The defence secretary is visiting Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates to discuss the situation in Gaza and Israel with regional leaders.
Meanwhile, later this morning, the foreign secretary, James Cleverly, will be answering questions in the Commons, following his own trip to the Middle East.
Welcome to today’s liveblog. I’m Nicola Slawson and I’m covering for Andrew Sparrow today. Do drop me a line if you have any questions or comments. I’m on [email protected] or @Nicola_Slawson on X, the site formerly known as Twitter.