Donald Trump 'keen to do a deal' with Britain in major Brexit breakthrough

Rachel Reeves confirms Britain IS in talks with EU over 'Brexit betrayal' youth mobility scheme - as Brussels bigwigs expected in London tomorrow

A controversial youth mobility scheme which could open the UK's door to millions of Europeans is being discussed with the EU, Rachel Reeves has confirmed.

The Chancellor told LBC that while there would be no return to a full freedom of movement set-up, discussions were "ongoing" with Brussels on a youth scheme.

Asked whether such a scheme was "not quite off the table", she said: "Those discussions with our colleagues and allies in the European Union are ongoing at the moment.

"We made a clear manifesto commitment to bring down net migration and for no return to free movement within the European Union.

"It is important that we determine who comes into our country and those things are not up for negotiation."

Downing Street said today that freedom of movement, the customs union and the Single Market were Britain's "clear red lines" in its discussions with the EU.

The Government had previously said there were "no plans" to introduce a visa scheme between the UK and EU - but today, the Prime Minister's spokesman refused to repeat the claim.

"We're listening to what the EU has to say on a range of issues, and we will consider sensible proposals within the bounds of our red lines," he said.

The talks come as EU chief Ursula von der Leyen is expected in London tomorrow for a meeting with Sir Keir Starmer - before she heads to Ed Miliband and the International Energy Agency's international energy summit.

Nigel Farage labels Remainers 'less patriotic than Brexiteers' in mega GB News interview

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has labelled Remainers "less patriotic than Brexiteers" in a wide-ranging interview with GB News' Political Editor Christopher Hope.

The comments come after Sir Keir Starmer claimed in his St George's Day speech that Labour is the "patriotic party" - but Farage has vowed in response that a party cannot be "patriotic" if it did not vote for Brexit.

"I never understood how you could call yourself patriotic and, at the same time, be happy to hand away chunks of self-control to a bunch of old men in Brussels, people you can't even vote for," the Reform UK boss fumed.

READ THE FULL STORY ON NIGEL FARAGE'S REMAINER FIGHT-BACK HERE

Farage also opened up to Chopper about Starmer's "obsession with the far-right", and how Vladimir Putin cannot possibly control seized Ukrainian soil - you can read both stories, in full, below...

• Nigel Farage blasts Keir Starmer's 'obsession with the so-called far right' after PM's St George's Day speech
• Nigel Farage says Vladimir Putin CANNOT keep control of seized Ukrainian land: 'I want to see peace'

Russia rages at 'European freaks' Keir Starmer and Emmanuel Macron after Trump attacks Zelensky

Ex-Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has labelled Sir Keir Starmer and Emmanuel Macron "European freaks" following Donald Trump's scathing social media attack on Volodymyr Zelensky.

Trump had warned Zelensky that digging his heels in on refusing to recognise Crimea as Russian soil risks ruining a peace deal - prompting the close Vladimir Putin ally Medvedev to launch into a social media tirade of his own.

He wrote: "We've been waiting! I hope different European freaks like Starmer and Macron will hear this.

"And then the typhoid louse of Kiev, who is in narcotic oblivion, will be brought to life."

Reeves refuses to say whether Labour can convince Trump to lower 10% tariffs on UK

Rachel Reeves has refused to say whether Labour can convince Donald Trump to lower his 10 per cent tariffs on the UK.

Asked whether securing a lower tariff deal was a realistic aim, she said: "Let's see where we get to."

"I do understand the concerns that the United States has about countries that run persistent, large trade surpluses with the US, but the UK is not one of those economies. We have balanced trade between our countries."

And when probed on whether the UK will be able to secure a lifeline, she said: "Let's see where we get to. Those discussions are ongoing. They're going well."

She also refused to lay out her position on whether Britain would retaliate if it did not secure a carve-out, saying: "We've already announced that we are asking businesses for what they want to see, but I don't think escalation is the right approach.

"We want to bring down trade barriers, not increase them. A trade war is in no one's interest."

Rachel Reeves vows Britain 'won't rush into deal' with Trump

Rachel Reeves has warned that Britain will not "rush into" a deal with Donald Trump's America - despite hailing the US as "keen" to strike one.

"It's clear that the United States do want to secure an economic agreement with the United Kingdom, and we want to do likewise," she told ITV in Washington DC.

"That will be in our national interest, and I will only sign a deal that is in our national interest."

But the Chancellor failed to put a timetable on reaching an agreement, saying: "We're not going to rush into a deal.

"The most important thing for British jobs, British industry and our consumers is getting the right deal, and we'll continue those discussions this week, including the meetings that I'll be having with my US counterparts."

Scottish First Minister REFUSES to define a woman - as he speaks at 'anti-Reform summit'

Scottish First Minister John Swinney has refused to define a woman following last week's landmark Supreme Court judgment.

The FM, speaking after his controversial cross-party "anti-Reform summit", suggested he did not have time to answer the question, saying: "I don't think we've got space for us all to answer. There will be plenty of opportunities for that."

Pressed later on the issue, he said: "That issue has been settled by the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court has given us the basis of law for that to be the case and that's what I accept."

But gender-critica Alba Party MSP Ash Regan, also on the panel, said the landmark judgment proved "trans women are not really women".

The ex-SNP Minister - who quit over her objections to the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill - said she was "disappointed" by the Scottish Government's response to the Supreme Court judgment.

PMQs RECAP: 'He doesn't have the balls!' Kemi Badenoch grills Keir Starmer as PM accused of 'hiding' after Supreme Court ruling

Tory leader Kemi Badenoch has torn into Sir Keir Starmer after the pair locked horns in a fiery Prime Minister's Questions row about trans women.

Badenoch demanded an apology from the Prime Minister after gender-critical MP Rosie Duffield was "hounded out of Labour" by trans activists.

The Leader of the Opposition, who appeared emboldened following last week's Supreme Court ruling, said: “He spoke about respect and dignity and compassion and lowering the temperature.

"So will he now apologise to the member for Canterbury [Rosie Duffield], the very brave member for Canterbury, for hounding her out of the Labour Party simply for telling the truth?”

The Prime Minister replied: “I have always approached this on the basis that we should treat everyone with dignity and respect, whatever their different views, and I will continue to do so.”

He also warned against turning the Supreme Court ruling into a “political football”.

However, Badenoch later demanded an answer as to where the Prime Minister was in the six-days following the Supreme Court's ruling.

She asked: “What about the abuse I faced from his MPs calling me a transphobe for supporting what the Supreme Court has now clarified?

“And where was he? He hid for six days without commenting on the Supreme Court judgement.

“Why did it take him so long to respond? Isn’t it because he was scared?”

Starmer, who later claimed Badenoch "did precisely nothing" as Equalities Minister, quipped: "The only fiction here is the idea that she delivered anything in office."

However, Badenoch went on to fume: “This is a question about moral courage, about doing the right thing, even when it is difficult. And the truth is he doesn’t have the balls.

“The Prime Minister only tells people what they want to hear.”

'The world has changed!' Rachel Reeves blames borrowing costs on Donald Trump - but hints he's 'keen to do a deal' with Britain

Rachel Reeves has claimed that Donald Trump is "keen to do a deal" with Britain - despite blaming the President's tariffs for an unexpected jump in the UK's borrowing costs earlier today.

"What we hear from the US administration is that they are keen to do a deal with the UK, reflecting the closeness of that relationship," the Chancellor told attendees at Semafor's World Economic Summit in Washington.

Reeves also hinted that any such deal could go beyond tariffs, including a "technology partnership" and "building on the close relationship we have on security and national defence".

"This isn't just about damage limitation, it's also about what the next step is," she said.

Adding that she would like to see a reduction in tariffs and non-tariff barriers on both sides of the Atlantic, Reeves continued: "I think that can be a bilateral process between our two countries to remove those remaining trade barriers that do exist.

"If we work on that basis there is a deal to be done that will benefit industry both in the UK and the US and jobs in our countries as well."

That comes despite her earlier remarks that "the world has changed" and Trump's tariff rollout has taken a "profound" toll on the global economy.

"The world has changed, and we are in a new era of global trade," she said. "I am in no doubt that the imposition of tariffs will have a profound impact on the global economy and the economy at home.

"This changing world is unsettling for families who are worried about the cost of living and businesses concerned about what tariffs will means for them. But our task as a Government is not to be knocked off course or to take rash action which risks undermining people's security.

"Instead, we must rise to meet the moment - and I will always act to defend British interests as part of our plan for change."

Kemi Badenoch steps in to play down Tory row after Robert Jenrick's 'coalition' remarks

Kemi Badenoch "agrees" with Robert Jenrick that "we need to bring centre-right voters together", her official spokesman has said.

The Tory leader had faced down calls to fire her Shadow Justice Secretary after he vowed to bring together a "coalition" of Reform UK and Conservative voters to take on Labour.

Jenrick had called for a united front against Sir Keir Starmer's party in an audio recording obtained by Sky News - and a source close to him has stressed his comments were "about voters and not parties".

Asked whether she agreed with her shadow minister's comments, Badenoch's spokesman said: "She agrees that we need to bring centre-right voters together to defeat Labour.

"What we saw last year was four million people voting for Reform, and they got five MPs and Labour got 400.

"So if we are to defeat Labour, we need to bring those voters back to the Conservative Party."

Badenoch was not aware of Jenrick's comments before they came to light - but her spokesman said it was "demonstrably true" that the right is not "united".

Reform UK shrugs off Labour's anti-Farage campaign as party pulls ahead in polls

Reform UK has been handed a fresh polling breakthrough, retaking a standalone first place in a national survey despite Labour's campaign of attacks against Nigel Farage's party.

New data from More In Common has placed Reform top of the charts after gaining one percentage point - with a quarter of Britons saying they would vote for the party if a General Election were held tomorrow.

At the same time, Labour has dropped by one point to 23 per cent - neck-and-neck with the Tories, who have maintained their vote share since the last poll.

Some way down on 14 per cent sit the Liberal Democrats, while the Greens and SNP take back a prospective eight and three per cent vote share, respectively.

'That's clearly wrong!' No10 admits some women’s rights campaigners not treated appropriately

Some women's rights campaigners were not treated appropriately, No10 has admitted.

Following a tense exchange with Kemi Badenoch at Prime Minister's Questions, the Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “It is clearly the case that some of the women who have sought this legal clarity have not been treated appropriately and that is clearly wrong, and the Prime Minister always takes an approach, whether it’s this issue or to any issue, that everyone should be treated with dignity and respect, and these, these debates should be conducted in that manner.

“And he has welcomed the court judgment for what it is. It’s a step forward. It’s a welcome step forward, and it obviously supports the government’s position, as set out in the manifesto, to deliver single sex spaces based upon biological sex.”

The spokesman would not be drawn on the treatment of Rosie Duffield.

He said: “I’m not going to individualize it, but it’s clearly the case that there are individuals and women who have helped to bring about this legal clarity that have not always been treated in the right way, and that is, that is obviously wrong.”

Watch toe-curling moment Rosie Duffield watches on as Keir Starmer REFUSES to apologise to her after trans ruling

Conservative Leader Kemi Badenoch has called on Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to apologise to Rosie Duffield during a heated exchange during Prime Minister's Questions.

Following the Supreme Court ruling on biological women, Badenoch questioned Starmer on whether he would offer an apology to Duffield - who resigned from the Labour Party after she was heavily criticised for her gender critical views.

Addressing the issue in the House of Commons, Badenoch told Starmer: "He can't bring himself to admit he was wrong. But he spoke about respect and dignity, and compassion - so will he now apologise to the member for Canterbury?

"The very brave member for Canterbury, for hounding her out of the Labour Party simply for telling the truth."

WATCH THE FULL CLIP BY CLICKING HERE

WATCH NOW: Nigel Farage in stitches as Starmer accuses Jenrick of ‘secret Reform plot’ behind Badenoch’s back

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

Labour MP reminds PM about his left-flank as Starmer hit with more questions about welfare cuts

A Labour MP has reminded Sir Keir Starmer about the internal threat posed by his own backbenchers as the Prime Minister was hit with more questions about welfare cuts.

Andy McDonald said: “Before asking MPs to vote, can he confirm that we will see fresh OBR analysis, evidence on who will be affected by the PIP [personal independence payments] changes and the Government’s own assessment of the employment impact of its measures?

“And will he confirm that this policy will not result in increased experience of poverty.”

The Prime Minister replied: “We are reforming a broken system, the system that we inherited. I think most people accept that it needs reform because it traps people in unemployment and inactivity and we need to reform it for that reason.

”The principles will be that we will provide support where support is needed. Where people do want to get into work, we will help them into work. The current system operates against people getting into work who want to make that transition. And that if you can work you should work.”

PM refuses to guarantee MPs vote on Donald Trump trade deal

Sir Keir Starmer stopped short of guaranteeing MPs a vote on any UK-US trade deal amid concerns the Prime Minister could buckle to Donald Trump's demands around agriculture.

Responding directly to Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey's question about a vote, Starmer replied: “He raises a really important point of real interest and importance to farmers. We will negotiate as he would expect in the national interest and uphold the highest animal welfare standards.

“We are making progress on that and then there will be a process if a deal is reached.”

Keir Starmer faces Donald Trump grilling as Lib Dems warn of farmers' fury

Keir Starmer has been issued with a major warning about a potential trade deal with Donald Trump as he returned to the House of Commons for the first time since the Easter recess.

Sir Ed Davey asked whether a bad deal with the US could see American agricultural business undercut the British beef market with inferior meat.

"We will negotiate, as he would expect, in the national interest and uphold the highest animal welfare standards," Starmer said.

"We are making progress on that and then there will be a process if a deal is reached."

'He wants your job!' PM swipes at Robert Jenrick and Nigel Farage over 'coalition' comments

Sir Keir Starmer has swiped at Robert Jenrick and Nigel Farage after comments appeared to show the Shadow Justice Secretary supporting an alliance with Reform UK.

The Shadow Justice Secretary, who allies claim was only talking about brining together the 2019 Tory coalition of voters, said: "I want the fight to be united.

"And so, one way or another, I'm determined to do that and to bring this coalition together and make sure we unite as a nation as well."

However, the Prime Minister claimed Jenrick was a man "doing everything he can" to replace Tory leader Kemi Badenoch.

"The man who most of her party want to replace her has admitted that Reform and the Tories are working together," he told MPs.

"He said I want this fight to be united. He said he's determined to bring this 'coalition, as he calls it' together one way or another. Well, I think we know what that means."

"They're not Conservatives, they're a con."

Starmer also surprisingly appeared to admit that he thinks Reform will soon become the leading party on the right of British politics.

He said: "The Clacton MP is going to do what he always does: Eat the Tory Party for breakfast."

Kemi Badenoch demands apology from Keir Starmer after MP 'hounded out of Labour'

Sir Keir Starmer has refused to apologise to Rosie Duffield after Kemi Badenoch turned up the heat to demand the Prime Minister speaks out about how the Canterbury MP was "hounded out of Labour".

Badenoch said: “He spoke about respect and dignity and compassion and lowering the temperature.

"So will he now apologise to the member for Canterbury [Rosie Duffield], the very brave member for Canterbury, for hounding her out of the Labour Party simply for telling the truth?”

The Prime Minister replied: “I have always approached this on the basis that we should treat everyone with dignity and respect, whatever their different views, and I will continue to do so.”

He also warned against turning the Supreme Court ruling into a “political football”.

Keir Starmer welcomes Supreme Court ruling but faces PMQs grilling

Sir Keir Starmer has welcomed the Supreme Court's ruling and claimed it brings "clarity, and will give confidence to women and service providers".

"And we will also ensure that trans people are treated with respect and we will ensure that everybody is given dignity in their everyday lives," he added.

"I do think this is the time now to lower the temperature and to move forward and to conduct this debate with the care and compassion that it deserves. And I think that should unite the whole house."

PM pays tribute to 'extraordinary' Pope Francis ahead of Saturday's funeral

Sir Keir Starmer has paid tribute to the late Pope Francis, hailing the pontiff as an "extraordinary man".

Speaking in the House of Commons, Starmer said: "His lifelong work on fairness will leave a lasting legacy.

"And people of all backgrounds and beliefs were inspired by his humility and compassion."

The Prime Minister also wished English MPs a happy St George's Day.

‘Delusional!’ Richard Tice blasts Rachel Reeves’ borrowing claims as Reform UK fear ‘cash pouring out the door’

Reform UK MP Richard Tice has lashed out at Chancellor Rachel Reeves after the UK Government’s borrowing costs were revealed.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) reported that borrowing exceed its forecast in the last financial year by almost £15bn.

Borrowing is the difference between total public sector spending and income - it amounted to £151.9bn over the 12 months to end of March.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves defended the spending, saying: “We are in a different economic circumstance than in a few months ago.

“We are set to be the fastest growing European economy in the G7.”

Tice responded: “She’s dreaming. She is entitled to, I suppose. But she is delusional."

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

'Embarrassing!' David Lammy humiliated as US negotiators pull out of London's Ukraine peace talks

Foreign Secretary David Lammy has been dealt a humiliating blow after US negotiators pulled out of London's scheduled Ukraine peace talks this morning.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and special envoy Steve Witkoff both opted against attending the crunch meeting.

The US will instead be represented by Keith Kellogg, the White House’s Ukraine envoy.

Representatives from Ukraine, the UK and France will still meet today, but it will no longer be primarily hosted by Lammy.

'They lied!' Kemi Badenoch ramps up pressure on Labour as Starmer urged to apologise

Tory leader Kemi Badenoch has accused Labour of lying over its stance on transgender women following the Supreme Court's landmark ruling last week.

Speaking ahead of Prime Minister's Questions, Badenoch said: “Yesterday, the Education Secretary claimed she’d always backed single-sex spaces for women.

“She lied. This is footage from last year where she says the exact opposite: that men should use women’s spaces if they have a certificate.”

The Tory leader showed footage of Bridget Phillipson, who also serves as Women's Minister, suggesting that transgender women who had gone through the formal gender recognition process could use ladies’ toilets.

Badenoch also urged Sir Keir Starmer to apologise to women.

She said: "The Prime Minister should apologise to the many women who have been harassed and hounded out of their jobs by groups who have misapplied the Equality Act.

"If Keir Starmer’s Government really do respect the judgment, they should take a stand against the extremists who still believe it is acceptable to intimidate women."

WATCH NOW: Eamonn Holmes grills Labour Minister Dame Diana Johnson on police vetting measures

Police officers who fail background checks will be automatically sacked under new rules, the Government has confirmed.

The measures, which have been brought to Parliament to improve confidence in policing, will make it a legal requirement for serving officers to pass vetting procedures.

It will also mean police chiefs given will be able to get rid of officers unfit to serve from next month.

The move comes after head of the Metropolitan Police Sir Mark Rowley accused officials of dragging their feet on giving police chiefs stronger powers to sack rogue officers.

Explaining the vetting changes, Policing Minister Dame Diana Johnson told GB News: "What the procedure is at the moment is if they don't fulfill the vetting procedure, then there's no way of dismissing them, getting rid of them.

"That would seem to me - and I'm sure the public would agree - to be wrong. This is about providing a way for chief constables to make sure that, if someone cannot hold vetting, they can be dismissed."

Streeting to announce 'world leading' cancer blood-testing plans as NHS unveils trial

Health Secretary Wes Streeting will today announce a "world-leading" cancer blood-testing service as the NHS unveils its trial.

Streeting, who was previously treated for kidney cancer, is expected to say: "From my own experience, I know the devastating toll cancer can take on patients and families.

"We know that the key to surviving cancer is catching it as early as possible, so this Government is taking the urgent action needed," he added.

The Government has announced funding of £2.4million to develop the AI-driven blood test, known as miONCO-Dx, in collaboration with the National Institute for Health and Care Research.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

'Eyewatering!' Borrowing surge sends shockwaves across UK as Tories warn Britons 'paying price' for Reeves's choices

Shadow Chancellor Mel Stride has warned Britons will "pay the price" for Rachel Reeves's fiscal choices amid a surge in borrowing costs.

Responding to the figures released by the ONS this morning, Stride said: "This morning’s figures lay bare the price the British people are paying for Rachel Reeves' choices.

"By fiddling the fiscal rules, increasing borrowing by £30 billion a year and piling up debt - these figures are alarming but not surprising.

"These eyewatering sums are being paid for by hardworking people through higher taxes, higher prices and higher mortgage rates."

Liberal Democrat deputy leader Daisy Cooper added: "This is a damning set of figures that should be ringing alarm bells inside the Treasury.

“After years of Conservative economic vandalism the Labour Government has completely failed to bring debt under control with a series of blundering missteps."

'You've made a bigger black hole!' Nigel Farage takes aim at Rachel Reeves as borrowing spirals 

Nigel Farage has taken aim at Rachel Reeves after the ONS this morning confirmed that borrowing had spiralled during Labour's first 10 months in power.

Taking to social media, the Reform UK leader said: "First of all Rachel Reeves's talk of a £22billion black hole inherited from the Tories, let’s see how she is getting on… At the time of the budget the estimate for yearly borrowing was £127billion.

"It has now been revised to £152billion. A £25billion black hole in just 10 months!"

'Sack him!' Kemi Badenoch under fire after Robert Jenrick hinted at 'grubby deal' with Reform UK

Kemi Badenoch has woken up this morning to calls for her to sack her Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick after a leaked recording showed the top Tory vowing to "bring this [Tory-Reform] coalition together" to block Sir Keir Starmer from returning to No10.

Speaking at a UCL Conservative Association dinner, Jenrick said: "I want the fight to be united.

"And so, one way or another, I'm determined to do that and to bring this coalition together and make sure we unite as a nation as well."

Liberal Democrat deputy leader Daisy Cooper turned the heat up this morning by urging Badenoch to sack her Shadow Justice Secretary.

She said: “The cat is out of the bag, senior Conservatives are plotting a grubby election deal with Nigel Farage.

“Kemi Badenoch should sack Robert Jenrick now if she’s serious about ruling out a pact with Reform. Anything less would show she’s either too weak to sack him or that she agrees."

Just moments later, Labour Party Chairwoman Ellie Reeves added: “Kemi Badenoch needs to urgently come clean as to whether she backs her Shadow Justice Secretary in doing grubby deals with Reform behind the electorate’s back or if she will rule it out.

“If she disagrees with Robert Jenrick, how can her leadership have any credibility whilst he remains in her Shadow Cabinet?"

WATCH NOW: Tory MP blasts Labour over Supreme Court's gender ruling

UK borrowing costs surge to 'third-highest level on record' in ANOTHER blow to Rachel Reeves

The UK's borrowing costs soared higher than expected in another blow to Chancellor Rachel Reeves, according to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

Britain's statistics authority found that public sector net borrowing rose to £151.9billion in the year to the end of March despite Labour's attempts to manage the nation's finances.

This figure is £14.6billion higher than the £137.3billion projected by the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) ahead of the publication of today's figures.

Notably, the 12-month figure was also £20.7billion higher than the public borrowing costs from the same period the year earlier.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

Robert Jenrick vows to 'unite the fight' against Labour with Tory-Reform pact

Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick has appeared to throw his weight behind a Tory-Reform alliance to stop Keir Starmer returning to No10 after the next General Election.

Speaking at a UCL Conservative Association dinner, Jenrick said: "I want the fight to be united.

"And so, one way or another, I'm determined to do that and to bring this coalition together and make sure we unite as a nation as well."

He added: "[Reform UK] continues to do well in the polls. And my worry is that they become a kind of permanent or semi-permanent fixture on the British political scene.

"And if that is the case, and I say, I am trying to do everything I can to stop that being the case, then life becomes a lot harder for us, because the right is not united."

In the recording, which was obtained by Sky News, the Newark MP added: "And then you head towards the general election, where the nightmare scenario is that Keir Starmer sails in through the middle as a result of the two parties being disunited. I don't know about you, but I'm not prepared for that to happen."

Jenrick has since denied the suggestion that the Shadow Justice Secretary was advocating for a pact with Reform UK.

A source close to Jenrick said: "Rob's comments are about voters and not parties.

"He's clear we have to put Reform out of business and make the Conservatives the natural home for all on the right, rebuilding the coalition of voters we had in 2019 and can have again.

"But he's under no illusions how difficult that is - we have to prove over time we've changed and can be trusted again."

WATCH NOW: Downing Street raises the flag of St George as PM leads celebrations

Rachel Reeves vows to 'defend Britain's interests' ahead of crunch Washington meeting

Chancellor Rachel Reeves has pledged to “defend Britain’s interests” ahead of a crunch meeting with Finance Ministers in Washington.

Reeves, who is expected to make a push for a UK-US trade deal, will spend three-days stateside for the International Monetary Fund's spring meeting.

She is also expected to hold her first face-to-face meeting with US counterpart Scott Bessant.

The Chancellor's visit to Washington comes as the IMF slashed the UK's growth forecast by 0.5 per cent, with almost all countries witnessing a downgrade.

PM meets with English icons at No10 St George's Day reception

Sir Keir Starmer has been snapped with a number of iconic English sportsmen and celebrities as No10 marked St George's Day with a reception yesterday.

Appearing alongside England rugby captain Maro Itoje, comedian Rob Beckett and BBC star Gary Lineker, Starmer said: "Moments like this, as we come together to celebrate St. George’s Day are a reminder of all our nation has been through over generations and the values that have endured. The creativity, resilience and good will and humour that have remained a constant through the ages and will endure for generations to come.

"So, let’s be proud of our national identity, let’s pay tribute to all those who keep our country going from the generations who laid down their lives to keep us free, to those serving our country today. Our armed forces, our NHS staff, our teachers and the small businesses who serve their community.

"Let’s remember our shared history, our shared inheritance and the values that have endured. And most of all, let’s hear it for England and for St. George! Thank you very much."