The Daily Politics

The Daily Politics

Tom Bateman
Political Correspondent, Millbank

Image source, Reuters

Theresa May was not "singling out" particular conflicts when she spoke of failed policy on military interventions, according to Downing Street. 

In her Philadelphia speech Mrs May pledged no return to the "failed policies of the past," saying the days were over of Britain and America intervening in sovereign countries to "remake the world in our own image". 

Asked which conflicts she was referring to, the prime minister's official spokesman said Mrs May was pointing out that intervention must be in the UK's interests. 

Pressed on whether this was a change of policy, the spokesman said: "The PM's words were pretty clear".

BBC News Channel

Theresa May had made it clear that she wants to work alongside Donald Trump - but has also emphasised areas of US policy that concern her, Sir David Manning, former UK's ambassador to the US, has said.

"I think she's tried to get in early in his term of office to discuss some of these things," he told the BBC.

Sir David, who was Britain's ambassador to the US between 2003 and 2007, said he thinks both sides will reaffirm their determination to conclude a quick trade deal once the UK has left the European Union.

He said:

Image source, Labour Party

While Theresa May is overseas, a row is brewing at home among Labour MPs over party leader Jeremy Corbyn's order that they must vote to trigger Article 50 - beginning the formal Brexit process.

Jeff Smith, who as a whip is in charge of party discipline, is the latest MP to say he will vote against the EU (Notification of Withdrawal) Bill.

Tulip Siddiq resigned as a shadow minister on Thursday as she is planning to vote against it, as is shadow minister Daniel Zeichner.

Another whip, Thangam Debbonnaire, has told the BBC she intends to vote against the bill as well. 

MP Ann Clywd tweeted, external: "No way will I vote to exit the EU next week."

Today Programme
BBC Radio 4

Image source, PA

David Cameron's former communications chief says Theresa May should "roll with the punches" when she faces the media later on Friday, particularly if journalists ask difficult questions.

Sir Craig Oliver told BBC Radio 4's Today programme journalists know when there's "tension" in the room "so they will be asking awkward questions, difficult questions".

He said he remembered how "very excited" the press were about quizzing French President Francois Hollande when news broke that he had a mistress.

Sir Craig said his advice for Mrs May "would be [to] be prepared but also roll with the punches and basically remain dignified, remain calm and keep pivoting back to the main message that you want to get across".

Former BBC chief political correspondent John Sergeant said Mrs May will need "to be very quick on her feet"  because no-one knows what Mr Trump will do next.

Theresa May has told US Republicans the UK and America cannot return to "failed" military interventions "to remake the world in our own image".

Suggesting a UK foreign policy shift, she said those days were over but added that the US and UK should not "stand idly by when the threat is real".

She said the two countries must "renew the special relationship for this new age" and "lead together, again".

Mrs May's US speech comes ahead of talks with President Donald Trump.

Read more...

Prime Minister Theresa May told a gathering of Republican Party politicians on Thursday that the UK and US have the "opportunity to renew the special relationship for a new age."

BBC Newsnight

The former Labour leader Ed Miliband says Donald Trump's first week as president has been "dizzying".

Mr Miliband told Newsnight the new US president's attitudes toward trade, climate change and refugees mark a departure from "normal times."

He also warned the prime minister against associating herself too closely with Mr Trump. 

Today Programme
BBC Radio 4

An American politician thinks there may be more to the new relationship between the UK's prime minister and the US president than meets the eye. 

North Dakota Congressman Kevin Cramer, who was at the Republican Party gathering that Theresa May addressed on Thursday, told the BBC: "As I was watching her, and listening to her, I thought: 'Is this Donald Trump's long lost sister?'

"There was real similarities, while at the same time, clearly a different take on certain global issues." 

Image source, Reuters

Prime Minister Theresa May is to hold face-to-face talks with US President Donald Trump in the Oval Office later.

The pair will spend about an hour together in the first visit by a foreign leader to the White House since Mr Trump became president.

Earlier, Mrs May told US Republicans the UK and US could not return to "failed" military interventions "to remake the world in our own image".

But she said they should not "stand idly by when the threat is real".

Read more...

Today Programme
BBC Radio 4

Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon says Mrs May is trying to re-energise the Anglo-American relationship.

He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 

Sir Michael said that Mrs May has made it clear the UK would not get involved in "foreign adventures" for the sake of it.

"What she's made it clear, in future, that where we are going to commit British troops, there has to be a very real threat to our country," he said.

"It has to be in the British national interest that we intervene in these countries. That we should not simply embark on foreign adventures for the sake of it."

The defence secretary also distanced Britain from Mr Trump's support for torture, saying: "We have made our position on torture clear. We do not condone torture."

Image source, AFP/Getty

Good morning and welcome to our coverage of Theresa May's first face-to-face talks with new US President Donald Trump.

The pair are expected to spend an hour together later in the first visit by a foreign leader to the White House since Mr Trump became president. Mrs May has already told US Republicans the UK and US could not return to "failed" military interventions "to remake the world in our own image". 

But she said they should not "stand idly by when the threat is real". The visit comes amid controversy over comments by President Trump about waterboarding. 

We'll be following all the reaction to Mrs May's speech throughout the day, and we'll be reporting live from her joint press conference with Mr Trump this evening.