Shadow defence secretary John Healey says when Sir Keir Starmer first appointed him, he told him that "never again will Labour go into an election not trusted on national security".

Healey then adds that it was a Labour government after the Second World War that helped establish Nato, and that when Starmer became the first Labour leader to visit the Barrow-in-Furness shipyards to see nuclear submarines being built, he said this would be "the bedrock of UK national security and defence".

We're due to hear from Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer in a few minutes.

He will be joined in the North West of England by shadow defence secretary John Healey - with the pair due to make speeches and meet with military veterans.

Starmer will reaffirm his party's commitment to a "nuclear deterrent triple lock" as well as his ambition to increase defence spending to 2.5% of gross domestic product (GDP).

It follows the Conservative Party's announcement on national service last week - a policy which would reintroduce national service for 18-year-olds either through military placements or volunteering.

You can watch live by clicking the play button at the top of this page.

Chris Mason
Political editor

Image source, PA Media

“There are two essential tests of trust: money and national security.”

I am chatting to a senior Labour figure about why they think shifting perceptions of the party’s attitude to defence is so important.

“If we don’t get those things right - economy and defence - why would people bother listening to us on anything else?”

In other words, Labour regard defence as a foundational issue.

Important for its own sake and, they conclude, vital if they are going to win.

Arguably this has always been the case.

But Labour’s leadership team is acutely aware of it now more than ever, because of what came before: the leadership of Jeremy Corbyn.

• You can read the full story here.

Image source, Getty Images

The changes that the Conservative Party are proposing this morning relate to the Equality Act – so how exactly does that law read right now?

Under the Equality Act 2010, it is illegal to discriminate against anyone because of "protected characteristics".

Protected characteristics include age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment and sex.

The Conservative Party is proposing to change the Act so that it refers specifically to biological sex. That would mean that protections enshrined under the Act on the basis of a person’s sex would only apply to biological sex.

Single-sex spaces and services, for example, would not be open to those who are biologically male but identify as female.

Under the plans, existing protections for transgender people would remain.

Gender Recognition Certificates legally recognise an affirmed gender. This certificate enables an update to a birth or adoption certificate if it is registered in the UK.

As it stands, some interpret the Equality Act to refer only to biological sex, others believe it equally applies to those with a Gender Recognition Certificate.

The Conservatives this morning have spoken about ambiguity in the law and providing clarification.

Kemi Badenoch, the minister for women and equalities, answered questions on the Today programme this morning about her party's pledge around biological sex.

She says that if you look at the origin of the Gender Recognition Act and the Equality Act, "it's quite clear that the intentions in the law are being misinterpreted just because of social changes".

The change proposed by her party is trying to "re-emphasise" that sex in the law means biological sex, Badenoch explains.

She adds that "it always has done but there's been a lot of misrepresentation and we are adding that clarification so that the law is clearer".

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We have been hearing a lot this morning about Conservative plans to rewrite the Equality Act so that protections it enshrines on the basis of a person's sex apply only to their biological sex.

Writing in the Times, , externalthe minister for women and equalities, Kemi Badenoch, said "clarification" was needed as "it is clear public authorities and regulatory bodies are confused about what the law says and what to do".

She says the changes proposed by her party would provide new protections for biological women in places such as hospital wards and rape crisis centres, or "instances of men playing in women's sports".

Tory strategists hope this will put other parties on the spot about where they stand on the issue.

Critics have, in the past, accused the Conservatives of seeking to stoke divisions and demonise transgender people in the search for votes.

Under the plans, existing protections for transgender people would remain.

Read more: What does trans mean and what is the Cass Review?

Badenoch is now asked about what would happen if a transgender woman goes to a rape crisis centre with an amended legal birth certificate that states their legal sex is female - would they be able allowed in?

Badenoch says often this is "not a paperwork issue".

Rather, what is happening, she says, is people coming to these centres are "visibly of a different sex".

What about someone who has had gender reassignment surgery?, she is asked. Is only the sex at birth regarded as someone's sex?

"That is what biological sex means," she tells the Today programme.

Badenoch says what her party is "trying to do is protect women spaces" and stop men who are "predators" from exploiting transgender people and laws that protect transgender people.

She is pressed again on whether someone who has had gender reassignment surgery could attend a rape crisis centre?

That will depend on the service provider, Badenoch says.

She adds that independent rape crisis centres can choose whether they accept transgender people. Under her party's proposal, if they choose not to, they can not be sued, she says.

Instead, the proposal is to try to stop people from exploiting the law, Badenoch explains.

Image source, PA

Badenoch is asked if in spaces such as women's refuges whether the only relevant paperwork needed to gain access would be an original birth certificate.

Badenoch responds that an original birth certificate is where biological sex is recorded.

She adds that for the vast majority of people this won't be an issue.

The change being proposed by her party, she says, will impact on those who have not been clear what it means for someone to be transgender - what the holding of a gender recognition certificate means.

That policy is about re-emphasising what the law says but Badenoch adds that there have always been exceptions in the Equality Act for single sex spaces.

We're now hearing from Kemi Badenoch on the Today programme.

She is initially asked about the Tories' pledge announced this morning around biological sex.

The Conservatives have promised to rewrite the Equality Act so that protections it enshrines on the basis of a person’s sex apply only to their biological sex.

Badenoch says that the law has always centred around biological sex - but that the intentions in the law have been misinterpreted recently because of "social changes".

She says her party's policy centres around clarification. "We're trying to reemphasise that sex in the law is biological sex."

Labour called the policy an "election distraction", while the Liberal Democrats and SNP have not yet commented on the proposals.

Image source, Reuters

While we listen to Kemi Badenoch, let's bring you some of what Labour's shadow defence secretary John Healey had to say on the Today programme a little earlier.

Healey was pressed on David Lammy voting against Trident in 2016 and his moral argument against nuclear weapons at the time and the notion of “loving thy neighbour” and protecting the world for future generation.

“The world has changed fundamentally in eight years and Keir Starmer has changed the Labour Party,” Healey says, repeating that frontbenchers and potential ministers know the UK deterrent would be the bedrock of Labour’s defence plans if voted into government.

“The world is far more dangerous, the threats are increasing and this is why the triple lock guarantee is important,” Healey says, adding that the last eight years have seen Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, growing Chinese aggression and conflict in the Middle East.

Asked what he'd say to Labour supporter who side with Lammy's stance in 2016 and think nuclear weapons are not right, Healey says: “I respect the morality of pacifists,” but that the first duty of any government is to protect the country and keep citizens safe.

Kemi Badenoch, minister for women and equalities, is about to speak to BBC Radio 4's Today programme.

It comes as the Tories announce they would amend the Equality Act to ensure the protected characteristic of sex is defined as "biological sex".

Stay with us and we'll bring you Badenoch's key lines in just a few moments.

Conservatives take political gamble on transgender care issuepublished at 08:10 British Summer Time 3 June 2024

08:10 BST 3 June 2024

Henry Zeffman
Chief political correspondent

The politics of the Conservative announcement today are not exactly subtle.

Victoria Atkins, the health secretary, has an article in the Daily Mail today headlined: “Keir Starmer doesn’t know what a woman is - but the Tories do”.

In The Times, Kemi Badenoch, the equality minister, accuses Starmer of “going round in circles on this issue”.

It’s true that issues around transgender care and identification have occasionally troubled Starmer politically, and there are some divisions within the Labour Party on it. Starmer has faced repeated criticism from the Labour’s Rosie Duffield on this issue. When Starmer is asked about the announcement he will no doubt dispute the claims about his position being made by the Conservatives this morning.

This is not without political risk for the Conservatives though. The equality act, which Badenoch is now vowing to amend, was one of the last laws passed by the last Labour government in 2010. Which is to say, the Conservatives have had their entire 14 years in office to fix those areas they now regard as problems with it.

There is also a question of salience. The Conservatives are hoping to appeal to voters strongly exercised by this issue. But general elections are just that - general - and it may well be that they find many voters are more concerned at the moment by more typical electoral subjects like the economy, the NHS, immigration and crime.

Image source, Reuters

We can bring you an update now on the Labour leadership's reaction to Diane Abbott announcing she intends to stand as a candidate for the party following the row over her position.

A reminder: a row over whether she would be allowed to stand has been ongoing for several days, after reports the party's ruling body would bar her from running.

Shadow defence secretary John Healey has been speaking to BBC 5 Live Breakfast, where he's asked if the party leadership regrets the way this case has been handled.

"No, what I'm pleased about, and I think widely in the party we're pleased, is that the way is clear now for Diane to make the decision," he says, adding she has the whip back and "she should be rubber-stamped tomorrow" as a candidate, describing her as a "significant Labour figure".

He's asked if Abbott deserves an apology. "She needs to run and win the election," Healey says, adding he is glad "the way has been cleared for her" and he looks forward to seeing her standing as a candidate.

Asked on 5Live about the Tories' new policy announcement that they would amend the Equality Act to ensure the protected characteristic of sex is defined as "biological sex", John Healey says it is an "election distraction" and that it is not needed.

The act "already protects single sex spaces for biological women", he says.

He says it’s "certainly true" that there has been some confusion, adding that "they [politicians] got in wrong in Scotland" and that “we can learn lessons from there”. (Read more on that here.)

But Healey says what is needed is "clearer guidance" for service providers, which he says Labour will produce.

Image source, Reuters

You will hear a lot today about Trident and the UK's nuclear deterrent but what does that all mean?

Put simply, the Trident nuclear-weapons system is part of Britain's nuclear defence.

The logic is if the UK were under nuclear attack, it could launch a retaliatory strike on the aggressor, a concept known as mutually assured destruction.

The system includes four nuclear-powered Vanguard-class submarines, missiles and warheads.

So why Trident is controversial and who gets to decide to launch nuclear weapons? You can read more here.

Defence Secretary Grant Shapps said: "Twelve members of Starmer's front bench team, including Angela Rayner and David Lammy, voted against Trident [in 2016].

"We know Rayner is now making the decisions in Labour, so Starmer's supposed backing for Trident is meaningless.

"Labour's refusal to commit to 2.5% defence spending by 2030 shows that they are a danger to our national security. Uncertain times call for a clear plan and bold action to chart a course to a secure future, only the Conservatives offer that."

Image source, PA Media

Labour will increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP and guarantee nuclear security "for generations to come", shadow secretary of state for defence John Healey says on BBC Radio 5Live.

Asked about Labour's timeframe for spending commitments, he says the party will launch a strategic defence review in their first year in power if elected to help assess capabilities needed, resources available and the threats the country faces.

He says he recognises that voters may be sceptical of vague timelines, not least because of what he calls 14 years of "broken promises" by the Conservatives.

He says that is why it's important Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer makes it a "cardinal rule for this campaign" to only "promise what we can deliver".

Pressed on how his Labour colleague shadow foreign secretary David Lammy voted against the renewal of Trident, the UK's nuclear deterrent in 2016, Healey says it was a different world back then, and that Lammy "understands and accepts that".

Healey emphasises the importance of the triple lock test and says that the Tories haven't made that commitment.

Marianna Spring
Disinformation and social media correspondent

Young voters in key election battlegrounds are being recommended fake AI-generated videos featuring party leaders, misinformation, and clips littered with abusive comments, the BBC has found.

With TikTok emerging as a new social media battleground in this election, the political parties have begun a war of memes on the app in a bid to reach its audience of young voters.

But a BBC project to investigate the content promoted by social media algorithms has found - alongside funny montages - young people on TikTok are being exposed to misleading and divisive content.

TikTok told the BBC it had increased its investment in countering misinformation for the UK general election, including adding a fact-checking expert to existing resources and employing AI-labelling technology.

• You can read more here

The election is 31 days away and all major parties have been touring constituencies non-stop for the last 10 days - but has all the frantic campaigning done much to change minds so far?

Here's BBC election expert Sir John Curtice, with his take on the latest polls - in 60 seconds.