Politics latest: Starmer to face grilling at PMQs after more Trump criticism over Iran war

Athena Stavrou reports from North London:

Zack Polanski was once again asked about his comments that hypnosis can increase a woman’s breast size.

The current Green Party leader made a controversial statement to a Sun newspaper journalist in 2013 before entering politics.

When he made his first comment, the Green Party leader stated that he “apologized 13 years ago” and said, “I apologize again.”

“And I think people largely see that we are more than just one mistake. I think it’s important to make mistakes that require that, and I apologize for that.”

Athena Stavrou reports from North London:

Zack Polanski has put forward wealth tax plans as a “day one priority” as part of his vision to end what he calls “robbing Britain”.

In his first major speech as leader of the Green Party, Mr Polanski advocated a 1 per cent tax on fortunes over £10 billion and a 2 per cent tax on fortunes over £1 million.

He said: “We know a wealth tax won’t fix everything, and no one has ever pretended it would. But it could be a very good place to start.”

He added: “For a truly progressive government, a wealth tax needs to be a top priority.”

Athena Stavrou reports from North London:

Zack Polanski called on the government to guarantee that energy bills will not be allowed to exceed the April-June price ceiling.

Speaking at his first major policy speech as the Green Party’s leader, he said the government should instead put aside £8.4bn to “prevent a rise of up to 300 pounds per house, that could be coming down the track”.

It comes at a time of growing uncertainty about household bills as war breaks out in the Middle East.

Angela Rayner has largely kept her criticism of the government to herself since she was forced to resign as deputy prime minister.

In fact, Ms Rayner was firing the starting gun in the race to replace Sir Keir Starmer, whose beleaguered premiership has been in limbo for months.

Angela Rayner has described Sir Keir Starmer’s immigration reforms as “un-British” and issued her most public challenge yet to the prime minister.

Speaking at an event organized by campaign group Mainstream on Tuesday, the former deputy prime minister warned Labor was “running out of time” to deliver change and “unable to act in the face of decline”.

He cited immigration reform as a major concern and described the reforms as “un-British”, arguing that changes to indefinite leave to remain for people already living in Britain would be a “breach of trust”.

Athena Stavrou reports from North London:

Zack Polanski began his first major economic policy speech as leader of the Green Party by addressing what he called the “illegal war” against Iran in the Middle East and its impact on the UK economy.

“People in the Middle East are afraid of what Trump and Netanyahu’s war will mean for them, and the repercussions are reverberating around the world as instability spreads and oil prices rise,” he said in a speech in north London.

“Again, for the second time in just a few years, the idea that we will again have to deal with a massive increase in the cost of essential goods is completely unacceptable.”

Athena Stavrou reports from North London:

It’s a sunny day in north London, where the Green Party’s Zack Polanski is making his first major policy speech as leader.

Members of the press and Greens supporters gathered at a garden centre, where they listened to Mr Polanski talk about the Green Party’s economic policies.

Speaking at the 40th anniversary of the New Economics Foundation, he reveals plans to stop “robbing Britain” and accuses the Labor government of presiding over “managed decline”.

Sir Keir Starmer faces criticism from MPs after he launched fresh criticism of Donald Trump’s leadership on the Iran war.

The Prime Minister will answer questions in the House of Commons after the US president accused him of making a “big mistake” by not “supporting” America’s military action.

It seems that the Middle East conflict and its domestic effects will be at the forefront of the agenda in Prime Minister’s Questions starting at noon.

The president criticized Britain for its resistance to immediately accept his appeal to allies to provide assistance in reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a key global shipping route for oil.

With the war now in its third week, oil prices remain above US$100 (£75) a barrel as a result of Tehran’s ongoing blockade of the crossing.

Speaking on Tuesday, Trump said he “liked” the prime minister but was “disappointed” in his recent stance on the conflict with Iran.

Asked by reporters in the Oval Office whether his relationship with Sir Keir had been damaged by Britain’s stance on the war in Iran, he replied: “There has been no support and I think that’s a big mistake.”

Mr Trump later repeated his claim: “Unfortunately, Keir is not Winston Churchill.”

Sir Keir Starmer insisted on Monday that Britain would not be dragged into a “wider war” and said he was working on a “workable collective plan” with partners, including Europe, to free up navigation in the region.