Summary

  • Sir Keir Starmer is travelling to the Nato summit in Washington DC for his first international trip since becoming prime minister

  • Earlier he urges MPs to deliver "national renewal" in an address to Parliament, hailing it as the most diverse in history

  • Former PM Rishi Sunak says the new PM has a "formidable task", as party leaders make speeches to the House

  • Sir Lindsay Hoyle is re-elected as Speaker of the House of Commons - watch here as he's dragged to his chair, as is tradition

  • The swearing-in of 650 MPs begins, with the process expected to continue into tomorrow

  1. Dentists and doctors - Streeting's first days in jobpublished at 05:49 British Summer Time 8 July

    Jim Reed
    Health reporter

    Britain's Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Wes Streeting walks outside Downing Street on the day of the first cabinet meeting with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, in London, Britain, July 6, 2024.Image source, Reuters
    Image caption,

    Wes Streeting said last week that his department's policy would be to see the NHS as "broken"

    The new health secretary has what looks like a busy first week on the job.

    Wes Streeting is due to make his first official visit today to a GP surgery alongside NHS England’s chief executive Amanda Pritchard.

    In its election campaign Labour said it wanted to shift resources from hospitals to general practice and community care to try to spot health problems earlier.

    He will also meet the British Dental Association to discuss changes to the much-criticised dental contract, which the union blames for an acute shortage of NHS appointments in many areas.

    Tomorrow will see the first face-to-face talks with junior doctors as the new government tries to end a long-running pay dispute that has led to the cancellation of hundreds of thousands of operations and other procedures across England over the past 18 months.

  2. Growth is UK's 'national mission', Reeves to saypublished at 05:33 British Summer Time 8 July

    Chancellor Rachel Reeves walking into Number 10 Downing StreetImage source, Reuters
    Image caption,

    Reeves is expected to announce some immediate loosening of planning red tape

    Rachel Reeves will set out Labour's plan for the economy later, saying the era of "chaos and irresponsibility is over".

    In her first speech as chancellor to business leaders at the Treasury, Reeves will say she's making economic growth a "national mission".

    She is also expected to announce she will bring back compulsory house building targets, as part of an overhaul of Britain's planning rules.

    And she will say that with political turmoil in the France and the US (you can read the latest on the French election here), Britain is now back as one of the most stable places for international investment.

    More here.

  3. What the papers are saying ahead of chancellor's speechpublished at 05:11 British Summer Time 8 July

    Front page of the Daily Telegraph and the Guardian

    Many of Monday's front pages focus on what Rachel Reeves is expected to say in her first speech as chancellor. The Daily Mail says she will "declare war on Britain's planning system", external.

    The Daily Telegraph says Labour's promise , externalto bring back mandatory housebuilding targets will raise fears the party will "push councils to build on green belt land".

    The Times has a similar assessment , externalon its front page, with the headline: "Homes on green belt in new dash for growth". The Financial Times says , externalshares in housebuilding companies rose after Labour's election win in anticipation of bold action from the new government.

    The i newspaper believes Labour is heading for a new "Brexit clash" , externalwith the EU over migration. A German diplomatic source tells the paper that easier mobility for young people is a key priority for the bloc.

  4. Starmer in Belfast as he promises 'stability' to NIpublished at 05:02 British Summer Time 8 July

    Sir Keir Starmer has arrived in Belfast in Northern Ireland on his first visit since becoming prime minister.

    The overnight visit will see the Labour leader continue his tour of the UK after he travelled to Scotland earlier on Sunday, and is due to arrive in Wales later on Monday before he meets mayors in England.

    The prime minister will visit Stormont this morning and meet First Minister Michelle O’Neill and Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly.

    Ahead of meetings, Starmer said “stability and certainty” would be at the centre of what his government does for Northern Ireland. “We are the party of the Good Friday Agreement, and the stability it has brought,” he said.

  5. New week, new PMpublished at 04:43 British Summer Time 8 July

    Francesca Gillett
    Live reporter

    It's a new week and a new government, as Sir Keir Starmer and his team begin their first full week in office.

    And it's also the first day at school for hundreds of new MPs - so if you were feeling the Sunday scaries last night, they might also be in the same boat.

    Today Starmer is in Belfast to meet Northern Ireland's leaders, before continuing his UK tour to Cardiff later.

    Rachel Reeves also has a big gig this morning - she's making her first speech as chancellor, giving the first glimpse of how she plans to get the economy growing.

    We're also expecting to hear more from the health secretary and education secretary on their plans for the NHS and teachers - and there are lots of political guests coming up on the morning TV and radio shows. All that, and it's only Monday. Stick with us!