Sir Keir Starmer has offered his congratulations to Donald Trump’s ahead of his inauguration today. In more Westminster-centric news, the Treasury’s been told to look into whether a department set up to save money is working as intended.
Monday 20 January 2025 15:24, UK
There is a lack of resources at the “understaffed, poorly defined” Office for Value for Money, a new report has claimed.
The Treasury Select Committee, chaired by Dame Meg Hillier, raised concerns the department is only contracted for a year – and only had 12 full-time members of staff as of December.
“It is therefore difficult to see how it will have a meaningful impact on driving efficiencies in departments,” the report states.
The office was established by Chancellor Rachel Reeves to ensure value for money is considered properly in public spending decisions made by the government, but the report says there were already seven organisations, teams, and processes set up to do the same thing.
There is a “clear risk of unnecessary duplication”, it adds.
‘A red herring’
Dame Meg said: “Our committee has concluded the Office for Value for Money is an understaffed, poorly defined organisation which has been set up with a vague remit and no clear plan to measure its effectiveness.
“All of which leads me to feel this initiative may be something of a red herring. The Treasury needs to share far more information about what this small team will actually achieve for the taxpayer which cannot be done elsewhere.”
A Number 10 spokesperson dismissed the suggestion the office was a “gimmick”, saying it “brings in expertise to help root out waste and identify areas where spending is wasteful”.
We’ve just caught a glimpse of the unmistakeable blonde mop of former prime minister Boris Johnson in Washington DC.
He’s heading inside for Donald Trump’s inauguration ceremony.
We already knew of a few serving British politicians who are in town, including Nigel Farage and Priti Patel.
Another former prime minister, Liz Truss, is in the US capital as well.
Reform UK plans to ask Home Secretary Yvette Cooper to account for why Axel Rudakubana’s terror links were not revealed sooner.
The 18-year-old has today pleaded guilty to the murder of three girls in last summer’s knife attack in Southport.
He also admitted attempting to murder 10 other people and additional charges related to possessing the poison ricin and an al Qaeda manual.
‘A wall of silence’
Nigel Farage, Reform’s leader, said: “I asked that question 24 hours after the murders. I said why are we not being told the truth? Was this man known to the authorities?
“We were met with a complete wall of silence. The prime minister and the home secretary refused to engage, Liverpool police refused to engage.”
He dismissed suggestions that revealing such information would have risked contempt of court, likewise accusations that he had stoked the subsequent riots with his rhetoric.
The public “was entitled” to know about Rudakubana’s background and the riots happened “because of the vacuum of information and crazy conspiracy theories gaining traction online”, he added.
‘An astonishing cover-up’
He added: “I think that the government are responsible for the most astonishing cover-up.
“I think we need an apology from the home secretary and an explanation as to why we have been denied the basic truth.”
Asked if he would be raising this in the Commons, Mr Farage replied: “We will, as a party, table an urgent question on this.”
The UK government has confirmed the Stormont Brake mechanism of the Windsor Framework will not be pulled to halt the appliance of new EU rules on packaging and labelling of chemicals in Northern Ireland.
The Windsor Framework was the agreement struck between Rishi Sunak and the EU to ease issues with goods travelling between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
It included a brake that ministers could apply if any future changes to European legislation had a significant impact on the everyday life of people and businesses in Northern Ireland, but the secretary of state, Hilary Benn, said the tests had not been met.
Unionists in the Northern Ireland Assembly had requested in December the government consider applying the brake over the EU amending legislation which will apply to the labelling and packaging of chemicals such as sealants, house cleaning materials or industrial chemicals.
In a letter to the Speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly, Edwin Poots, Mr Benn pointed out the labelling rules for chemicals in Northern Ireland are already different from the rest of the UK, as it is a devolved matter.
Mr Benn promised the government will take future steps necessary to avoid regulatory barriers between Great Britain and Northern Ireland arising from the legislation.
The Windsor Framework, and its predecessor the Northern Ireland Protocol, require checks and customs paperwork on goods moving from Great Britain into Northern Ireland.
Under the arrangements, which were designed to ensure no hardening of the Irish land border post-Brexit, Northern Ireland continues to follow many EU trade and customs rules.
Products which are travelling through Northern Ireland to get to the Republic of Ireland – which is in the EU – go via a red lane, ensuring they pass all the customs checks they need to before crossing the Irish Sea.
But products which are set to stay in Northern Ireland – and therefore in the UK – go via a green lane.
The brake is a mechanism that allows a minimum of 30 Stormont MLAs, from at least two parties, to refer a proposed EU law change to the UK government.
There is “no good news” after Axel Rudakubana pleaded guilty to murdering three girls at a dance class in the town, the MP for Southport has said.
Patrick Hurley told the BBC he is “very pleased” the families of Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, Bebe King, six, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, will not be put through the “mental torture” of a trial.
“There is no good news story here,” Mr Hurley said. “We are reaching a sense of finality, but this isn’t a case of celebration or jubilation.”
We must “make sure we remember” the fact “three little girls were murdered that day”, he added.
Rudakubana, 18, from Lancashire, appeared at Liverpool Crown Court on what was due to be the first day of his trial on Monday.
He refused to stand or confirm his name but then pleaded guilty to the murders of Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, Bebe King, six, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven.
He also admitted 10 counts of attempted murder and possession of a kitchen knife over the attack in the Merseyside town on 29 July.
Police released his mugshot following his guilty pleas.
After “going dark” for most of the week, Sky News political editor Beth Rigby pops up in Poland to talk world politics with Ruth and Harriet.
Top security, a slow train and Russian drones are all part of the inside story of the prime minister’s visit to Ukraine.
Beth explores why UK solidarity with the Kyiv could mean British boots on the ground.
And overshadowing everything is president-elect Trump. He is already leaving his mark on the world. Trump claimed his impending inauguration piled on the pressure to get the Gaza ceasefire deal through.
Ruth, Harriet and Beth work out how the UK needs to manage its role in “Trump World”. And in Ukraine, Beth finds out if the Trump era could leave the country feeling betrayed.
Email us at electoraldysfunction@sky.uk, post on X to @BethRigby, or send a WhatsApp voice note on 07934 200 444.
Our deputy political editor Sam Coates has reported there’s some concern inside government that Donald Trump might block the prime minister’s choice to become Britain’s ambassador in Washington.
The incoming president is said to be none too pleased about the pick of Lord Mandelson, but Downing Street has insisted he’s an “excellent” candidate with “considerable expertise”.
Sir Keir Starmer’s spokesperson said the New Labour stalwart’s credentials would be presented to Mr Trump following his inauguration later today, and they’re “looking forward to hitting the ground running with his new team” on issues including trade.
We’ve not been snubbed, says Downing Street
Downing Street also downplayed the fact there are no senior government ministers attending the inauguration.
British politicians from parties of the right will be there, including Reform’s Nigel Farage and Priti Patel for the Tories.
It’s not custom for world leaders to be invited, though Mr Trump has broken with tradition by inviting right-leaning figures like Italian PM Giorgia Meloni and Hungary’s Viktor Orban.
Sir Keir’s spokesperson said the “unique” UK-US relationship would continue and “deepen” in the years ahead.
A man is about to start a new job in America – here are the main things you need to know:
We have two ministerial statements in the Commons later.
At 3.30pm it’s David Lammy talking about the UK’s new 100-year “friendship” deal with Ukraine, as was signed by the prime minister in Kyiv last week.
After that it’s Wes Streeting, who’ll be talking about Labour’s review of the old Boris Johnson plan to build dozens of new hospitals.
There’s no Politics Hub With Sophy Ridge later due to Trump’s inauguration – you can watch and follow that via our live blog below:
Jeremy Corbyn and John McDonnell have been released “pending further investigation” after being voluntarily interviewed by police following a pro-Palestinian rally in central London.
The former Labour leader, 75, voluntarily attended a police station in the capital on Sunday afternoon.
The BBC reported John McDonnell, 73, who was the shadow chancellor during Mr Corbyn’s leadership, also agreed to be voluntarily interviewed.
Today, the Crown Prosecution Service said two men, aged 75 and 73, “who attended voluntary interviews following the protest have been released pending further investigations”.
Sky News saw the pair leaving Charing Cross Police station on Sunday afternoon. They declined to comment when approached.
Meanwhile, a further three people have been charged with public order and assault offences following the rally on Sunday.
Benjamin Jamal, 61, of Barnfield Avenue, Kingston upon Thames, was charged with public order offences, including inciting people to fail to comply with conditions and will appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on 21 February.
Jamila Zadran, 32, of Caulfield Road, East Ham, was charged with assaulting an emergency worker.
Luke Jacobs, 22, of Kingsgate Road, West Hampstead, was charged with obstructing a police officer and criminal damage.
Jacobs will appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Monday February 17 and Zadran on Wednesday 19 February.
Tech billionaire Elon Musk unexpectedly waded into British politics this year, launching attacks at both Sir Keir Starmer and safeguarding minister Jess Phillips over Labour’s reluctance to launch a national grooming gangs inquiry.
He later claimed Sir Keir was snubbed by president-elect Donald Trump by not being invited to his inauguration, which will take place in Washington DC today.
Mr Musk suggested this was because the prime minister had “undermined” the US election in November, referring to the 100 Labour staff who campaigned on behalf of Kamala Harris.
But is it the case that the prime minister was snubbed?
To put it simply, no.
Foreign leaders aren’t typically invited to American inaugurations, like the one being held on 20 January, so Sir Keir’s lack of attendance will be nothing out of the ordinary.
Who’s on the guest list?
It is the case, however, that Mr Trump has broken from tradition by inviting some foreign allies.
Notably, it is understood that the president-to-be sent a personal invitation to Chinese President Xi Jinping, though it is unclear if he will attend.
Others thought to have been invited by Mr Trump include Argentinian President Javier Milei, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban.
Again, it is unclear if any of those invited will attend.
However, we do understand that Reform UK leader Nigel Farage – an ally of Mr Trump – will be at the inauguration.
Others likely to be in attendance are shadow foreign secretary Priti Patel and former prime minister Liz Truss, both of whom have been spotted in DC this weekend.
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