Starmer accuses Musk of ‘spreading lies’ over grooming gangs: live

British food sales to Europe have plummeted by a fifth since 2018, the farming minister has admitted, sparking calls for Labour to slash post-Brexit red tape and strike a food standards agreement with the EU.

Daniel Zeichner said that while the UK’s current deal with the EU allows tariff-free access to the bloc, leaving the single market and customs union has “had an impact on the export of agri-food products”.

Archie Mitchell has the exclusive report here:

A member of Sir Keir Starmer’s top team has referred herself to the government’s independent ethics adviser over her links to the deposed prime minister of Bangladesh.

Treasury minister Tulip Siddiq, who is responsible for tackling financial crime, will be investigated by standards watchdog Sir Laurie Magnus amid questions over her aunt Sheikh Hasina, who was removed from power after protests against her rule last year.

Our political correspondent Archie Mitchell reports:

In his latest piece for Independent Voices, Jon Sopel writes:

You know that moment when your child gets home from school and you’re aware something bad has happened? Then, it all comes out: the person your child thought was his new best mate isn’t that nice after all. And he’s worried that his other longstanding friend might side with him, because the other two seem really tight. And you listen attentively, if slightly bewildered, to learn the spat is all the fault of that horrid kid in the class, Tommy.

Well, in this story it’s Nigel Farage who’s fallen out with the school’s Mr Flash – Elon Musk… all because Nige hasn’t shown loyalty to another kid, Tommy (Robinson, of course), who has been expelled. And Farage is worried that his longstanding best friend, Donald Trump, might side with Elon because they seem inseparable – always hanging around the playground together, sniggering at the back of the classroom, Elon letting Don copy his algebra homework.

If it wasn’t so consequential for British politics, it might be easy just to play it for laughs.

But it does matter. Having played an outsized role in the US presidential election in November – and few can doubt Musk’s significance, both in terms of financial muscle and his alleged recalibration of the X algorithm to promote and amplify Trump’s messages – it looks like the world’s richest man is turning to the UK as his next political playground.

Sir Keir Starmer has unveiled the full details of Labour’s plan to reform the NHS and reduce waiting times from 18 months to 18 weeks.

The prime minister claimed the reforms were about providing more convenience for patients with the country facing a crippling NHS waiting list backlog.

“This plan is a comprehensive level of that mindset, an NHS that treats patients more quickly, that is closer to their lives, gives them the level of convenience that they take for granted in nearly every other service they use every day,” he said on Monday.

Rachel Clun has this report on some of the key changes, and what they will mean for you:

In his speech earlier, Sir Keir Starmer said that more complex NHS cases would be “put through” the private sector.

The PM added: “On the private sector, the broad issue is really to make sure that the capacity we’re able to use for the private sector is more comprehensive, is in areas which aren’t necessarily usually covered by these agreements, which sometimes can be the sort of easiest operations, if you like, put through the private sector.

“We want to broaden that to make better use of the capacity that is there.”

City minister Tulip Siddiq has referred herself to the ministerial standards watchdog following controversies over properties linked to her family and her aunt’s political movement in Bangladesh.

Asked aboute the controversy, Sir Keir Starmer said Ms Siddiq “has acted entirely properly by referring herself to the independent adviser, as she’s now done”, in a reference to the independent adviser on ministerial standards Sir Laurie Magnus.

He continued: “That’s why we brought into being the new code. It’s to allow ministers to ask the adviser to establish the facts.

“And yes I’ve got confidence in her, and that’s the process that will now be happening.”

Ms Siddiq had been due to join a Treasury delegation heading to China this week, but will now stay in the UK. A source said: “Tulip wants to be the UK so she is available to assist the independent adviser on ministerial standards.”

Addressing calls for a new inquiry into grooming gangs, Sir Keir Starmer said: “On the question of this call for an ever-increasing number of reviews, there have been a lot of reviews, including localised reviews, including into Oldham for example.

“And the Jay report was intended to look at the different types of exploitation that went on – it was a comprehensive review.

“What Professor Jay said was really important there, because I completely agree, which is ‘this doesn’t need more consultation, it doesn’t need more research, it just needs action’. There have been many, many reviews. This constant asking for a further review.

“No stone should be left unturned, but frankly it’s time for action, get on with it. Why didn’t the last government implement the Jay requirements? For 10 years we’ve had reviews and reports. Did they act? No, they’re now tweeting and talking about what they think should have been done.”

Asked about relations with the US, Sir Keir said he is more concerned about UK politics.

He expressed concern at the Tories’ failure to condemn attacks on Jess Phillips, saying MPs should question why they are in politics if they are not prepared to do so.

“I’m very concerned about where the Tory party is going on this, in this country.

“This isn’t about America or Musk, I’m talking about our politics. The responsibility they have for condemning it.

“If you’re not prepared to stand up and defend Jess Philips, you need to ask yourself why you’re in politics in the first place.”

Asked by ITV whether he could take legal action over Musk’s claims: “I’ve said quite a lot about the various lies and misinformation that are put out there.

“My record is open – there was nothing secret about being director of public prosecutions. Every case I prosecuted went to court and was looked at by a judge.”

He added: “This isn’t about whether I defend myself or my record, frankly. That record is there, you can see it, you can make your own mind up. It is something about the nature of our politics, because once we lose the anchor that truth matters in the robust debate we must have, then we’re on a very slippery slope.”