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Rishi Sunak will argue that Britain is safer under the Conservatives against the backdrop of two escalating conflicts likely to dominate the week.

In the last few days, the prime minister has broken with US President Joe Biden by insisting the UK should continue to supply arms to Israel.

It comes as Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu appears poised to mount another massive military operation in the southern Gaza town of Rafah against warnings from the US and UK.

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Meanwhile, there are fears in Whitehall that Russia could mount an operation on Kharkiv by the end of the week to retake Ukraine‘s second-largest city.

Both operations could trigger wider repercussions.

Amid this worsening global outlook, the Conservatives want to highlight what they say is the gap between Tory and Labour pledges on military spending.

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Politics latest: Cameron warns Israel against Rafah invasion

Rishi Sunak at the Catterick Garrison in North Yorkshire on 3 May. Pic: AP
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Rishi Sunak at the Catterick Garrison in North Yorkshire on 3 May. Pic: AP

Sunak announced last month that a future Tory government would ensure 2.5% of GDP will be spent on the military by 2030, while Labour says it will do it when the economic conditions allow.

After the initial announcement, Sunak wants to ensure he gets full public credit for the big spending commitment while pushing Labour on its failure to match the promise.

Labour says that the Tory spending plan does not add up.

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Israel arms embargo ‘not a wise path’

On Monday, Sunak will use a set-piece speech to mount the argument that there is a need for security at home and abroad in an ever-increasingly dangerous world and describe the country as being at a crossroads at the next general election.

In a further major political dividing line, Labour has broken with the government and called this weekend for a suspension of arms to Israel, placing it alongside the United States.

However the Tory government is holding firm, arguing that now is not the time and that Britain only supplies a small amount of the munitions used by Israel.

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Some people inside government suggest that the US government position is driven by President Biden’s need to take a tougher position to shore up votes in the upcoming election race.

Sunak’s Monday speech is one part of a set of security-themed announcements by the government, following Lord Cameron’s media blitz at the weekend.

On Monday, deputy foreign secretary Andrew Mitchell will address a Tory-leaning think tank, while on Tuesday Defence Secretary Grant Shapps will make a speech, with Chancellor Jeremy Hunt speaking on Friday.

Also, Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden will lead a trade delegation this week to Saudi Arabia.

Although boosting trade will be the focus, Saudi Arabia, like Qatar, is one of the backchannels used by the UK to deliver messages to Hamas.

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Second man charged and appears in court over fires at properties and car linked to Sir Keir Starmer

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Second man charged and appears in court over fires at properties and car linked to Sir Keir Starmer

A second man has appeared in court charged in connection with a series of fires linked to Sir Keir Starmer.

Romanian national Stanislav Carpiuc was remanded in custody after a hearing at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday accused of arson with intent to endanger life.

He has been charged with conspiring with Roman Lavrynovych, 21, and others unknown to “damage by fire property belonging to another, intending to damage the property, and intending to endanger the life of another or being reckless as to whether the life of another would thereby be endangered”.

The 26-year-old, from Romford, east London, was arrested by counter-terrorism officers at Luton Airport on Saturday as he tried to travel to Romania, the court heard.

With the help of a Russian interpreter, Carpiuc, who was born in Ukraine, spoke only to confirm his identity in a short hearing.

The charge relates to three fires.

Two of the fires took place in Kentish Town, north London. One occurred during the early hours of 12 May at the home where Sir Keir lived before he became prime minister and moved into Downing Street.

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A car was set alight in the same street four days earlier on 8 May.

The other fire took place on 11 May at the front door of a house converted into flats in Islington.

A forensics officer is seen in Kentish Town, north London. Police are investigating a fire at Sir Keir Starmer's house in north London. Picture date: Monday May 12, 2025.
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A forensics officer outside the house in Kentish Town. Pic: PA

Keir Starmer's house in Kentish Town.
Pic: PA
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Pic: PA

Prosecutor Sarah Przybylska said: “At this stage, the alleged offending is unexplained.”

The court heard Carpiuc gave a no comment interview to police.

Defending, Jay Nutkins said his client has lived in the UK for nine years and is currently waiting for his degree results having studied business at Canterbury Christ Church University in Kent.

He denies being present at the scene of any of the fires, the court was told.

Carpiuc, who was supported by his father in court, was said to work in construction.

He will next appear at the Old Bailey on 6 June.

Lavrynovych, a Ukrainian national from Sydenham in southeast London, has already been charged with three counts of arson with intent to endanger life in connection with the fires.

He denied the charges in a police interview.

Lavrynovych appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court last Friday and was remanded in custody until a further hearing at the Old Bailey also scheduled for 6 June.

A third man, aged 34, was arrested in Chelsea in southwest London on Monday on suspicion of arson.

He remains in custody, the Metropolitan Police said.

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‘Brexit wounds’ mean EU states want to limit UK’s access to rearmament fund, Sky News told

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'Brexit wounds' mean EU states want to limit UK's access to rearmament fund, Sky News told

Britain should have access to the EU’s rearmament fund before the end of the year but “wounds of Brexit” mean some member states want it to be limited, the bloc’s foreign affairs chief has said.

Kaja Kallas told Sky News’ political editor Beth Rigby that the “technical details” of Security Action for Europe (SAFE) still need to be sorted out.

SAFE is a €150bn (£126bn) fund to provide loans to EU nations and other participants to bolster their defences.

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As part of Sir Keir Starmer’s new reset deal with the EU, a new defence partnership was struck that will allow the UK to access it.

Asked when this might be, Ms Kallas said: “The SAFE instrument has just been finalised between the institutions but it also needs approval from the European Council. And when that is done, we also move on with the implementation of that, and that is in the coming months.”

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Who wins from the UK-EU deal?

Asked about reports that some member states think there should be a limit on what the UK can access, she said: “ Of course these discussions are there. We have the wounds from Brexit very clearly.

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“I mean you wanted to exit the European Union and then there are many voices who say that you shouldn’t have the same benefits from the European instruments that the European Union countries have.”

According to The Times, France is pushing to freeze the UK out of 85% of the fund.

European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas arrives to attend the UK-EU Summit at Lancaster House in London on May 19, 2025. HENRY NICHOLLS/Pool via REUTERS
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Kaja Kallas, the EU’s high representative for foreign affairs. Pic: Reuters

Asked if Britain’s access should be higher, Ms Kallas said her personal view is that given the current climate “we should do both. We should invest more in European industry. But we should also cooperate with our outside partners like the UK”.

She added that the EU hasn’t had discussions in terms of percentage, because the fund is “down to the capabilities”.

“That is, I think, more important than numbers,” she said.

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Easing trade and signing a defence pact would be manifesto promises delivered – and PM could use a win

Speaking to the BBC, Chancellor Rachel Reeves said that the UK was in a “better place than any country in the world” on trade.

She said that under Labour, Britain has “the first deal and the best deal so far with the US, we’ve got the best deal with the EU for any country outside the EU, and we’ve got the best trade agreement with India”.

“Not only are these important in their own right,” she added, “but it also shows that Britain now is the place for investment and business, because we’ve got preferential deals with the biggest economies around the world.”

The UK government has said accessing SAFE will support thousands of British jobs.

Defence was one of the many areas that has been agreed as part of the new UK and the EU trade deal struck by Sir Keir Starmer – five years after Brexit kicked in.

A key part of the deal involves giving European fishing boats a further 12 years of access to British waters.

In return, there will be increased access to EU eGates for British passport holders in Europe, no health certificates every time pets travel to Europe and the removal of red tape from most UK food and drink imports and exports.

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Use of e-gates by British holidaymakers in EU still not guaranteed, minister suggests

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Use of e-gates by British holidaymakers in EU still not guaranteed, minister suggests

The use of e-gates by British holidaymakers in the European Union is still not guaranteed, a minister has indicated.

Following six months of talks, Sir Keir Starmer unveiled his post-Brexit trade deal on Monday at the first summit of European Union and UK leaders in London.

The wide-ranging deal will allow more British travellers to use passport e-gates when going on holiday to Europe, while farmers will get swifter, easier access to trade on the continent as a result of an agreement on animal and plant product standards.

Politics latest: Minister claims UK-EU deal could add £90bn to economy

Sarah Jones
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Sarah Jones

But Sarah Jones, the minister for industry, told Sky News negotiations on e-gate usage will have to continue with individual countries – despite the deal.

She said: “Of course it will take time with each country, but we will go as fast as we can. And of course, I will come back to you as soon as I can on the timings.”

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‘Britain is back on the world stage’

This appears to be a departure from the prime minister, who on Monday declared more explicitly that “Brits travelling to Europe will now be able to use e-gates”.

Ms Jones was asked about the wording of Monday’s agreement, and whether it commits only to “swiftly exploring opportunities for enhanced co-operation” with the European Union.

She disagreed, stressing that the UK will have access to an “enormous fund for defence”.

However, she admitted the deal will need to be negotiated further “going forward”.

“But the principle of this is important. It’s giving us access to a market we didn’t have before,” she said.

Pushed again on whether the post-Brexit deal is a plan rather than an agreement, Ms Jones said: “It was a lot more than a plan.”

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The minister also insisted the cost to taxpayers from Sir Keir’s deal with the EU will be outweighed by the economic benefits.

The UK will pay administration costs, which have yet to be decided, for participation in measures such as the scheme to make it easier to ship animal and plant products to the EU.

Ms Jones told Sky News: “Whatever administrative costs we have to pay, and they will be negotiated and I don’t have an answer for you now on what those costs are, they will be outweighed very significantly by what we estimate will be a £9bn advantage a year by 2040.”

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