Keir Starmer called ‘vindictive’ over Margaret Thatcher portrait removal as PM seeks to reduce smoking spaces – UK politics live

Dame Priti Patel is set to officially launch her Tory leadership bid at a major speech.

The former home secretary is expected to reveal her plan to change the Conservative party and her vision for improving the nation if she gets elected.

The Tory MP will tell Conservative members that she is the best candidate to ensure the party has “all the tools needed” to take on Labour and to “send Starmer packing”.

She is one of six candidates standing to replace Rishi Sunak, including James Cleverly, Kemi Badenoch, Mel Stride, Robert Jenrick and Tom Tugendhat.

The number of mortgages approved for home buyers has jumped to its highest level since the month the mini-budget was delivered under then-prime minister Liz Truss.

The Bank of England recorded 62,000 approvals for house purchases in July – the highest total since 65,100 were recorded in September 2022.

Mortgage rates surged after then-chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng’s September 2022 statement delivered as part of a “growth plan”.

In recent weeks, mortgage rates have been edging down and earlier this month, the Bank of England base rate was cut by 0.25 percentage points to five per cent.

The Bank’s Money and Credit report said house purchase approvals increased from 60,600 in June.

By contrast, approvals for remortgaging (which only capture loans with a different lender) fell to 25,100 in July from 27,300 the previous month.

The figures were released as Nationwide Building Society said UK house prices fell by 0.2 per cent month-on-month in August, after taking account of seasonal effects, but the annual rate of house price growth continued to edge higher. Average prices were up 2.4 per cent year-on-year – the fastest rate since December 2022.

Ireland’s premier is seeking legal advice over trade with Israel.

While noting that international trade policy is an EU competency, Simon Harris said he was writing to Irish Attorney General Rossa Fanning for “fresh legal advice” on the domestic possibilities.

Mr Harris said that “every lever” must be pulled to maximise pressure on the Israeli government to bring forward a cessation of violence in Gaza.

The leaders of Ireland’s three coalition parties decided that the State would not procure any further defence or military equipment and contracts from Israel.

Speaking on Friday, Mr Harris said the action was “appropriate” in line with rulings of the International Court of Justice.

Mr Harris said: “I think it’s really important when an international court makes substantive findings, that those findings are given effect in every way.”

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Scottish Conservative MSP Pam Gosal has resigned as the party’s deputy chairwoman and endorsed leadership candidate Russell Findlay.

The West Scotland MSP wrote in the Scottish Daily Mail on Friday that she is stepping back from the role so she can “fully support the candidate I believe can bring our party together at every level”.

She added: “I’m backing Russell Findlay to unite us, lead us forward and get our party winning again.

“Russell has the support of far more MSPs than other candidates. He’s got the backing of dozens of councillors too. And I know our party members are behind him.”

Mr Findlay – who is contesting the top job against Meghan Gallacher and Murdo Fraser – welcomed her backing.

Keir Starmer faces mounting pressure to resist diluting a planned ban on exploitative zero-hours contracts, despite business leaders warning of potential economic damage if reforms are rushed.

The Trades Union Congress (TUC) has urged the prime minister to prioritise the ban, highlighting new evidence of financial hardship among millions in insecure work.

Labour’s proposed overhaul of workers’ rights has sparked rension between the new governmnet and businesses.

Deputy prime minister Angela Rayner and Business secretary Jonathan Reynolds have reportedly assured employers of a phased approach to the reforms.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves emphasized a commitment to “co-design” policies with businesses, aiming for growth while improving workers’ conditions.

However, TUC general secretary Paul Nowak insisted banning zero-hours contracts is crucial, challenging business leaders to understand the instability faced by those on such contracts.

“I would challenge any business leader or politician to try and survive on a zero-hours contract not knowing from week to week how much work they will have,” he said.

“It’s time to drive up employment standards in this country and to make work pay for everyone. The government’s forthcoming employment rights bill will help create a level playing field – and stop good employers from being undercut by the bad.”

A recent poll showed 84 per cent of zero-hours workers desire regular hours, with many struggling financially due to insufficient work.

Sir Keir Starmer has had a portrait of Margaret Thatcher removed from No 10 Downing Street, according to his biographer.

Tom Baldwin said that the prime minister found the £100,000 painting, which was commissioned by Gordon Brown, “unsettling” – sparking outrage among Conservative MPs.

Speaking at an event organised by Glasgow’s Aye Write book festival, Mr Baldwin said that after Sir Keir took office, they met at No 10 for a private conversation.

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John Swinney’s first party conference since returning as SNP leader is due to begin – with a post-mortem examination into what went wrong in the election campaign.

The SNP dropped to just nine seats in the July 4 poll, its worst return in more than a decade.

The first session of the Edinburgh conference will be a behind-closed-doors meeting led by Mr Swinney that will assess what went wrong in the campaign.

Speaking on Thursday, he described the election as “very difficult” for the party.

“There’s obviously a lesson that we’ve to learn from that, and that would be part of the discussion on Friday morning,” he said.

“What’s important is the SNP focuses on building for the future.

“We’ve got a great track record of serving the people of Scotland, we need to build on that to make sure we make the positive and hopeful case for independence and that will be at the heart of the party conference.”

Over the course of the weekend, speeches from depute leader Keith Brown, Westminster leader Stephen Flynn and Mr Swinney will be punctuated by “policy discussions” with Scottish government ministers including Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes, Constitution Secretary Angus Robertson and Finance Secretary Shona Robison.

Mr Robertson will likely face questions from members about the recent controversy surrounding his meeting with the deputy Israeli ambassador.