‘We’re not going away’: PM delivers ‘straightforward’ message for Putin at G7 summit

Published

2 years ago

May 19, 2023

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Rishi Sunak has given a “straightforward” message for Vladimir Putin at the G7 summit: “We’re not going away.”

Speaking to Sky News in Hiroshima, the prime minister had ready answers for his policy and position on Ukraine.

Hours earlier, he had announced a ban on imports of Russian diamonds – and told me that he believes other G7 countries will follow suit this weekend.

“Russia needs to know that we and other countries are steadfast in our resolve to support Ukraine, not just in the here and now with the resources it needs to protect itself, but for the long term as well,” the PM said.

Ukraine war latest: ‘Remarkable development’ means Russia ‘has never looked weaker’

Mr Sunak repeatedly refused to commit to reducing overall net migration below the 504,000 figure for the year to June 2022, saying: “What I can commit is that we want to bring those levels down.”

In 2019 the Conservative Party promised in its manifesto to bring overall net migration figures down from the then 226,000 in 2019.

But during this parliament, net migration has continued to rise to record levels – and is set to go even higher still.

Figures to be released next week are set to show numbers growing from 650,000 to just shy of one million, which will pile pressure on the prime minister.

Of course, Mr Sunak is loathed to commit to a figure because he doesn’t know if he can keep the pledge – his motto after all is to deliver on promises, and don’t promise what you can’t deliver.

But it is also an admission that, having failed to hit the last manifesto target of driving net migration down to below 226,000, he can’t even commit to driving it back past half a million, which will give Labour lots of political ammunition to fire at the prime minister going into a general election campaign.

Mr Sunak kept rounding back to his plans to tackle illegal migration and stop small boat crossings in our interview – probably because he knows this is where key target voters will want to see progress from the PM – but he must know too that high levels of migration and breaking the 2019 manifesto pledge puts him in a tight spot with the public.

The PM said this week of his election prospects that he’s confident he can win the next general election, but you can’t help but wonder if he’s still reeling from the huge local election losses earlier this month that saw the Conservatives lose over 1,000 councillors.

This after all is a man of great success – head boy at his boarding school, a self-made millionaire and successful businessman who went into politics and became PM.

But when I asked him how he feels when he loses, he looked a bit stumped and asked me what I meant.

When I asked him again how he felt when he didn’t win, he trotted out the same line he gave on the morning of the local elections – “it’s always disappointing to lose hard-working councillors”.

In fact, the prime minister was quite robotic in our interview at times.

Eight times in our nine-minute exchange, Mr Sunak referred to his “five priorities”.

He went on to list those priorities on four separate occasions in our conversation when I pressed him on local elections and the cost of living crisis.

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On the world stage, this is a leader who is delivering, be it the new bilateral Hiroshima agreement with Japan to deepen economic, security and technological ties between London and Tokyo, or the new set of sanctions against Russia.

And Mr Sunak will be given a further boost on this front over the weekend as President Zelenskyy of Ukraine arrives in Japan to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with his allies against Russian aggression.

But back home, it seems that his message to voters on his five-point plan to “halve inflation, grow the economy, reduce debt, cut waiting lists and stop the boats” seems to be falling on deaf ears, however many times he chooses to say it.

No 10 is betting that if he manages to turn those promises into real action for voters, they may give the Conservatives another look.

But after seven months in power, the polls aren’t moving in his favour – and what’s clear is that there isn’t a Plan B.

UK

In pictures: Donald Trump given royal welcome as UK state visit begins

Published

1 hour ago

September 17, 2025

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In pictures: Donald Trump given royal welcome as UK state visit begins

Donald Trump has kicked off his second state visit to the UK with a royal greeting, carriage procession and gun salute.

As the US president and the First Lady Melania Trump touched down in a rainy Windsor, they were greeted by Prince William and Kate, before meeting King Charles and Queen Camilla.

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The national anthems of the UK and US were then played as a carriage procession carried the Trumps and the King and Queen towards Windsor Castle.

Here, Mr Trump inspected the Guard of Honour before heading inside the castle. Tonight, a grand state banquet will be held in honour of the US president, where both the King and Mr Trump are expected to give speeches.

UK

Ricky Hatton was ‘in a good place’ before death, his family says

Published

1 hour ago

September 17, 2025

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Ricky Hatton was 'in a good place' before death, his family says

Ricky Hatton was “in a good place” before his death, his family has said – as the son of the boxing legend paid tribute to his father.

“Heartbroken isn’t the word,” Campbell Hatton said in the post, alongside a series of family photos.

“Everybody has always said I was your double – never a truer word said. Looked up to you in every aspect of life.”

Hatton was found dead at his home in Hyde, Greater Manchester, on Sunday. Police said there were no suspicious circumstances.

Campbell’s tribute came after others poured in from across the world of sport and beyond.

Like his father, Campbell pursued a career in boxing, making his professional debut in 2021. He retired earlier this year.

He added in his post: “Can’t explain how much I’m going to miss the laughs we had and all the good times, which I will remember forever. Just can’t believe we won’t have any more. Love you, Dad.”

Hatton had announced he was coming out of retirement for an exhibition bout on 2 December, in Dubai.

That would have marked 13 years since his last professional contest.

He was “excited for the future” before his death, his family said in a new statement on Wednesday.

“We are all distraught at the events of recent days,” they said.

“To all our knowledge, despite his well-documented struggles, Richard was in a good place.

“He was excited for the future; his bag was packed ready to go to Dubai to promote a comeback fight and he was planning a celebration in Dubai of which his beloved girls Millie and Fearne were to be the centre of. He was excited that they would see him fight for the first time in person.”

He had dinner with his girls on Friday night and “was not alone in life or in the days before the weekend”.

“We are all in shock at the events that unfolded at the weekend,” they said. “Richard was found by his friend and long-time manager Paul Speak, who we are supporting at this time, along with Richard’s parents, Ray and Carol, his children and the wider family.

“The outpouring of grief and love from the nation and worldwide shows how much Richard was loved. It will, in time, be something that gives us all some comfort and pride.”

Details of a memorial service would be released in due course, they added.

Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham has said the city will give consideration to how best to honour Hatton’s memory properly in the weeks and months ahead.

‘The people’s champ’

It comes after soap star Claire Sweeney said she “adored and cherished” her ex-boyfriend. They were long-time friends and dated for several months after competing on Dancing On Ice in 2024.

Soap star Sweeney wrote on Instagram: “I’ve needed a few days to process the devastating news about my dear friend Ricky.

“My thoughts are with his family especially his children Campbell, Millie Fearne and Lyla, his granddaughter.

“Ricky, you were the people’s champ. We adored and cherished you. Love you always.”

She also posted a montage of photos of them together.

Anyone feeling emotionally distressed or suicidal can call Samaritans for help on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org in the UK. In the US, call the Samaritans branch in your area or 1 (800) 273-TALK.

UK

Woman shot by husband on Valentine’s Day after trying to escape relationship

Published

1 hour ago

September 17, 2025

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Woman shot by husband on Valentine's Day after trying to escape relationship

A woman was shot and killed by her husband outside a pub on Valentine’s Day after trying to leave the relationship, an inquest heard.

Lisa Smith, 43, was shot twice in the neck in the car park of The Three Horseshoes in Knockholt, Kent, on 14 February this year.

She had earlier told her sister she was leaving her husband, Edward Smith, and had got on a train from their home in Slough to stay with family in Kent.

Mr Smith tracked her down at the pub that evening before blocking her friend’s car with his and firing four shots with a handgun, Kent and Medway Coroner’s Court heard.

On Wednesday, area coroner Katrina Hepburn concluded Ms Smith died from unlawful killing and found “requisite intent from Edward Smith to kill her or cause her really serious harm”.

After killing his wife, Mr Smith, also known as Edvard Stockings, sent voice notes to someone he called “Nana”, saying: “I’ve shot Lisa, she’s dead.”

He then jumped to his death from the Queen Elizabeth II bridge in Dartford later that evening.

In one of the voice notes he alluded to suicide and stated: “Hopefully I’m going to get into heaven with my wife.”

Detective Sergeant James Dolby told the court that Ms Smith was picked up at Orpington station by her friends and sister shortly before they went to the pub.

Just before 7pm, Ms Smith was in the passenger seat of her friend’s car in the pub car park when her husband arrived, having called her and her friends multiple times while looking for her.

There was a “verbal altercation” between him and Ms Smith’s sister, Laura, who called him a “narcissist” inside the pub before he got back in his car and left.

DS Dolby said Mr Smith then went on to block the Seat car from exiting.

The first two shots from his handgun were fired from inside his own vehicle.

The coroner said: “He pulled forward in the car and fired a second shot, he was seen to exit the vehicle with arms outstretched holding a handgun and firing a shot through the driver’s side car window.”

It was this third shot that caused “fatal damage” to Ms Smith’s neck, before he came around to the passenger side and fired at her again from close range.

“Four shots were fired, the first two from within his vehicle towards the Seat. There were no injuries consistent with the trajectory of those first two bullets,” said Ms Hepburn.

Despite CPR from members of the public and emergency services, Ms Smith died from her injuries at 7.42pm.

Setting out her conclusion, the coroner said: “I am satisfied on the balance of probabilities that a short form conclusion of unlawful killing would be safe and appropriate to set out in this manner.

“There was intent to find Lisa Smith after she had left her home address and once she was found the car she was seated in was blocked, preventing any exit.”

An inquest into the death of Mr Smith will take place this afternoon.