{"id":9834,"date":"2026-01-06T12:47:46","date_gmt":"2026-01-06T12:47:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/microvibenews.com\/?p=9834"},"modified":"2026-01-06T12:47:46","modified_gmt":"2026-01-06T12:47:46","slug":"kemi-badenoch-says-trumps-venezuela-raid-was-morally-right-uk-politics-live-politics","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/microvibenews.com\/?p=9834","title":{"rendered":"Kemi Badenoch says Trump\u2019s Venezuela raid was \u2018morally\u2019 right \u2013 UK politics live | Politics"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<div id=\"liveblog-body\"><span class=\"dcr-90inr0\"><gu-island name=\"KeyEventsCarousel\" priority=\"feature\" deferuntil=\"visible\" props=\"{&quot;keyEvents&quot;:[{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;695cfe118f08189717ef3705&quot;,&quot;elements&quot;:[{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;p&gt;Before Christmas &lt;strong&gt;Keir Starmer&lt;\/strong&gt; was hoping to use this week to highlight the government\u2019s determination to bring down the cost of living for people. As explained &lt;a href=\\&quot;https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/politics\/live\/2026\/jan\/05\/uk-venezuela-response-starmer-trump-labour-conservatives-latest-news-updates?page=with%3Ablock-695b6fd18f085ed25e9e3d7a#block-695b6fd18f085ed25e9e3d7a\\&quot;&gt;on the blog yesterday&lt;\/a&gt;, Donald Trump has blown this out of the news with his raid on Venezuela.&lt;\/p&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;334fdef2-e847-4820-931a-63877fdd9430&quot;},{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;p&gt;But Starmer has not abandoned the plan and, according to a &lt;a href=\\&quot;https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/politics\/labour\\&quot; data-component=\\&quot;auto-linked-tag\\&quot;&gt;Labour&lt;\/a&gt; readout from the political cabinet this morning, he told his colleagues that the government should \u201ckeep a relentless focus on the cost of living, show relentless delivery of change people can feel and bring relentless clarity to drawing the choice ahead\u201d.&lt;\/p&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;e7f53f26-c9a3-486e-bb87-b5ef0ea8f138&quot;},{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;p&gt;Referring to that choice, Starmer said:&lt;\/p&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;02df31f8-e22b-47a4-94b5-a99defb75da6&quot;},{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;blockquote class=\\&quot;quoted\\&quot;&gt;\\n &lt;p&gt;A Labour government renewing the country or a Reform movement that feeds on grievance, decline and division.&lt;\/p&gt;\\n &lt;p&gt;They want a weaker state, they want to inject bile into our communities, they want to appease Putin. This is the fight of our political lives and one that we must relish.&lt;\/p&gt;\\n&lt;\/blockquote&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;192228cc-7f5e-4ccf-9543-89cd9179f926&quot;},{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;p&gt;Starmer also urged his ministers to ignore the polls&lt;\/p&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;3cca923b-1593-4c96-976a-e2d9d036a0b2&quot;},{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;blockquote class=\\&quot;quoted\\&quot;&gt;\\n &lt;p&gt;I do not underestimate the scale of the task. But I have no doubt about this team. Governments do not lose because polls go down. They lose when they lose belief or nerve. We will do neither.&lt;\/p&gt;\\n&lt;\/blockquote&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;54a4e792-5b23-4ca2-aad7-cea88bed512b&quot;},{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;p&gt;(While Starmer is right to say that politicians should not be paralysed by poor poll ratings, because they can change a lot over three years [and sometimes they were wrong too], they can\u2019t ignore polls either. Governments may not lose &lt;em&gt;because&lt;\/em&gt; polls go down, but normally they do lose &lt;em&gt;when&lt;\/em&gt; polls go down. A YouGov poll out today has Labour for the first time in third place behind Reform UK and the Tories. See &lt;a href=\\&quot;https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/politics\/live\/2026\/jan\/06\/badenoch-trump-venezuela-maduro-starmer-streeting-uk-politics-latest-news-updates?page=with%3Ablock-695ce5818f08cf9754d8e354#block-695ce5818f08cf9754d8e354\\&quot;&gt;10.44am&lt;\/a&gt;.)&lt;\/p&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;d702744a-1cc1-4078-a3f8-c1fa4207e763&quot;},{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Lucy Powell&lt;\/strong&gt;, the deputy Labour leader, attended politcal cabinet. According to the readout, she thanked Starmer and his team \u201cembracing me as deputy leader\u201d and said that she relished \u201chelping to tell the story of whose side we are on\u201d.&lt;\/p&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;3f646783-c513-49e2-a258-1b2bce002887&quot;},{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;p&gt;Ministers then discussed \u201csuccessful recoveries of centre-left parties in Norway, Australia and Canada through focussing on delivery and cost of living issues\u201d.&lt;\/p&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;62f66ab7-663c-44ff-abd1-69485383bda4&quot;}],&quot;attributes&quot;:{&quot;pinned&quot;:false,&quot;keyEvent&quot;:true,&quot;summary&quot;:false},&quot;blockCreatedOn&quot;:1767702033000,&quot;blockCreatedOnDisplay&quot;:&quot;12.20\u00a0GMT&quot;,&quot;blockLastUpdated&quot;:1767703597000,&quot;blockLastUpdatedDisplay&quot;:&quot;12.46\u00a0GMT&quot;,&quot;blockFirstPublished&quot;:1767703550000,&quot;blockFirstPublishedDisplay&quot;:&quot;12.45\u00a0GMT&quot;,&quot;blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone&quot;:&quot;12.45&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;Starmer tells cabinet 'governments don't lose because polls go down' - as YouGov puts Labour behind Reform UK and Tories&quot;,&quot;contributors&quot;:[],&quot;primaryDateLine&quot;:&quot;Tue 6 Jan 2026 12.46 GMT&quot;,&quot;secondaryDateLine&quot;:&quot;First published on Tue 6 Jan 2026 09.20 GMT&quot;},{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;695cf3c98f08cf9754d8e3f6&quot;,&quot;elements&quot;:[{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;p&gt;In her Today programme interview this morning &lt;strong&gt;Kemi Badenoch&lt;\/strong&gt; tried to outflank Nigel Farage on net zero scepticism by claiming (wrongly) that she started talking out this before he did.&lt;\/p&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;f59b1fb6-3996-44e8-816f-4af3531c5314&quot;},{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;p&gt;Asked by the presenter, &lt;strong&gt;Nick Robinson&lt;\/strong&gt;, to give an example of a single policy that the &lt;a href=\\&quot;https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/politics\/conservatives\\&quot; data-component=\\&quot;auto-linked-tag\\&quot;&gt;Conservatives&lt;\/a&gt; would implement to boost economic growth, &lt;strong&gt;Badenoch&lt;\/strong&gt; said that they would allow more drilling for oil in the North Sea.&lt;\/p&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;f5e056ac-3336-402d-aa33-d332aaff4701&quot;},{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;p&gt;When &lt;strong&gt;Robinson&lt;\/strong&gt; said it was interesting to note that she was proposing a policy that Farage had been championing for years, &lt;strong&gt;Badenoch&lt;\/strong&gt; did not accept that. She said that she had a long history of being sceptical about net zero targets and she claimed that, when the Theresa May government legislated for the 2050 net zero target in 2019, she was the only Tory MP who questioned whether this was affordable. She went on:&lt;\/p&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;fb271e77-fe03-4b07-81a9-11aadbfc6bf5&quot;},{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;blockquote class=\\&quot;quoted\\&quot;&gt;\\n &lt;p&gt;There wasn\u2019t a Reform party then \u2026&lt;\/p&gt;\\n &lt;p&gt;I have always been a net zero sceptic, even in government. I was the one who argued that we need to bring back some of these targets \u2026 I\u2019ve been consistent. Nigel Farage is following me.&lt;\/p&gt;\\n&lt;\/blockquote&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;0c197c95-ede9-464f-aec1-1f7eefd3c2b8&quot;},{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;p&gt;Badenoch is right to say that, in 2019, when MPs were debating the order setting 2050 as the net zero target, she questioned whether this was achievable. But her intervention in the short debate as a backbencher &lt;a href=\\&quot;https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/politics\/live\/2025\/mar\/18\/disability-benefits-cuts-pip-liz-kendall-labour-kemi-badenoch-conservatives-uk-politics-latest-updates-news?page=with%3Ablock-67d958288f0846970b3a2ec8#block-67d958288f0846970b3a2ec8\\&quot;&gt;consisted of two sentences&lt;\/a&gt;, and she did not vote against the move.&lt;\/p&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;d2896837-ae2a-4546-9b8c-a1e87ddd6bf3&quot;},{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;p&gt;But &lt;strong&gt;Farage&lt;\/strong&gt; has been a climate change sceptic for years. In 2015, as Ukip leader, he was &lt;a href=\\&quot;https:\/\/www.spiked-online.com\/2015\/03\/09\/im-taking-on-the-establishment-and-they-hate-me-for-it\/#.VQBBLnysXks\\&quot;&gt;telling interviewers&lt;\/a&gt; that he hadn\u2019t \u201cgot a clue whether climate change is being driven by carbon-dioxide emissions\u201d and that efforts to cut carbon production in the UK made \u201cno sense at all\u201d. The &lt;strong&gt;VoteClimate&lt;\/strong&gt; website has an archive of his historic tweets about climate change &lt;a href=\\&quot;https:\/\/voteclimate.uk\/mps\/nigel-farage\/tweets#tabs\\&quot;&gt;here&lt;\/a&gt;.&lt;\/p&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;7c6f190f-524e-42de-b6cf-d8344bda923b&quot;},{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;p&gt;Asked if she thought it would be better to have Farage as PM or &lt;a href=\\&quot;https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/politics\/keir-starmer\\&quot; data-component=\\&quot;auto-linked-tag\\&quot;&gt;Keir Starmer&lt;\/a&gt;, &lt;strong&gt;Badenoch&lt;\/strong&gt; said they were both \u201cbad in different ways\u201d. She explained:&lt;\/p&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;c07e9417-0019-47dc-9272-04b7f8d1f02b&quot;},{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;blockquote class=\\&quot;quoted\\&quot;&gt;\\n &lt;p&gt;Keir Starmer doesn\u2019t have a plan, doesn\u2019t have an agenda. He\u2019s weak.&lt;\/p&gt;\\n &lt;p&gt;Nigel Farage is a one-man band who is all about himself and would make a mess of things. [He] doesn\u2019t do detail.&lt;\/p&gt;\\n &lt;p&gt;We need a serious, credible, competent party [the Conservatives].&lt;\/p&gt;\\n&lt;\/blockquote&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;eafd2eef-e7e7-47bb-adee-9855def4ccac&quot;}],&quot;attributes&quot;:{&quot;pinned&quot;:false,&quot;keyEvent&quot;:true,&quot;summary&quot;:false},&quot;blockCreatedOn&quot;:1767699402000,&quot;blockCreatedOnDisplay&quot;:&quot;11.36\u00a0GMT&quot;,&quot;blockLastUpdated&quot;:1767702428000,&quot;blockLastUpdatedDisplay&quot;:&quot;12.27\u00a0GMT&quot;,&quot;blockFirstPublished&quot;:1767701306000,&quot;blockFirstPublishedDisplay&quot;:&quot;12.08\u00a0GMT&quot;,&quot;blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone&quot;:&quot;12.08&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;Badenoch claims (wrongly) she started championing net zero scepticism before Nigel Farage&quot;,&quot;contributors&quot;:[],&quot;primaryDateLine&quot;:&quot;Tue 6 Jan 2026 12.46 GMT&quot;,&quot;secondaryDateLine&quot;:&quot;First published on Tue 6 Jan 2026 09.20 GMT&quot;},{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;695cc1db8f08c8e556cdf16f&quot;,&quot;elements&quot;:[{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;p&gt;There were three urgent questions in the Commons yesterday, and two statements. Some of them were unusually long, which meant that the final statement, from &lt;strong&gt;Hamish Falconer&lt;\/strong&gt;, the Middle East minister, did not start until 8.30pm. In it, he said that what was happening as a result of Israel blocking aid getting into Gaza was \u201cunforgiveable\u201d.&lt;\/p&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;541ce785-5bcb-400a-97cc-82fdbb8f095b&quot;},{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;p&gt;He said:&lt;\/p&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;64f40429-712c-4978-a0a6-7f926bc0e3d8&quot;},{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;blockquote class=\\&quot;quoted\\&quot;&gt;\\n &lt;p&gt;More trucks are entering Gaza, and this is very welcome, but right now, key crossings remain closed, convoys are being turned back, medical and shelter supplies are blocked, and NGOs are being banned.&lt;\/p&gt;\\n &lt;p&gt;We joined nine other countries in stating that this is not acceptable, over the recess. The peace plan cannot work if NGOs are shut out. Israel\u2019s decision to ban 37 of them is unjustifiable.&lt;\/p&gt;\\n &lt;p&gt;Furthermore, many trucks entering Gaza carry commercial goods, which face fewer barriers than humanitarian aid.&lt;\/p&gt;\\n &lt;p&gt;This means, perversely, it is currently easier to get cigarettes and luxury goods into Gaza than the basic medicines and shelter that people so desperately need.&lt;\/p&gt;\\n &lt;p&gt;Too much aid is still stuck at Gaza\u2019s borders. Thousands of tents and shelter supplies funded by the UK are waiting to get in.&lt;\/p&gt;\\n &lt;p&gt;Families are sheltering from winter floods and storms under rubble. They are suffering from hypothermia and sewage running in the streets. This is unforgivable.&lt;\/p&gt;\\n&lt;\/blockquote&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;f6ae6c18-5829-46d0-bde9-a92e397284a3&quot;}],&quot;attributes&quot;:{&quot;pinned&quot;:false,&quot;keyEvent&quot;:true,&quot;summary&quot;:false},&quot;blockCreatedOn&quot;:1767691226000,&quot;blockCreatedOnDisplay&quot;:&quot;09.20\u00a0GMT&quot;,&quot;blockLastUpdated&quot;:1767698257000,&quot;blockLastUpdatedDisplay&quot;:&quot;11.17\u00a0GMT&quot;,&quot;blockFirstPublished&quot;:1767698103000,&quot;blockFirstPublishedDisplay&quot;:&quot;11.15\u00a0GMT&quot;,&quot;blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone&quot;:&quot;11.15&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;Israel blocking aid trucks from entering Gaza 'unforgivable', Middle East minister Hamish Falconer tells MPs&quot;,&quot;contributors&quot;:[],&quot;primaryDateLine&quot;:&quot;Tue 6 Jan 2026 12.46 GMT&quot;,&quot;secondaryDateLine&quot;:&quot;First published on Tue 6 Jan 2026 09.20 GMT&quot;},{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;695cc1f78f08aeb1214745d4&quot;,&quot;elements&quot;:[{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;p&gt;Peers inflicted four defeats on the government last night as they debated the bill to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, PA Media reports. PA says:&lt;\/p&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;aa13cdb3-1caf-4f60-8734-769da3e75871&quot;},{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;blockquote class=\\&quot;quoted\\&quot;&gt;\\n &lt;p&gt;The government signed a treaty back in May to return sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, which will also see Britain lease back the strategically important military base on Diego Garcia \u2013 the largest island within the remote Indian Ocean archipelago.&lt;\/p&gt;\\n &lt;p&gt;As well as establishing a \u00a340m fund for Chagossians expelled from the islands, the UK has agreed to pay Mauritius at least \u00a3120m annually during the 99-year agreement, a total cost in cash terms of at least \u00a313bn.&lt;\/p&gt;\\n &lt;p&gt;The Diego Garcia military base and British Indian Ocean Territory bill has already passed the Commons. But, at third reading in the Lords yesterday, peers backed by 194 votes to 130 \u2013 a majority of 64 \u2013 a Tory measure which would force the government to publish the total cost of the payments to be made to Mauritius, including the full methodology used in the calculation.&lt;\/p&gt;\\n &lt;p&gt;Peers went on to narrowly vote by 131 to 127 \u2013 a majority of four - for a Liberal Democrat provision that would ensure parliamentary oversight over UK government spending linked to the treaty, which would also allow MPs to halt payments if Mauritius was judged to have breached the terms of the deal.&lt;\/p&gt;\\n &lt;p&gt;In an earlier government setback, the Lords supported by 210 votes to 132 \u2013 a majority of 78 \u2013 a Liberal Democrat change requiring a referendum among the Chagossian community on whether the transfer deal adequately guaranteed their rights to resettlement, consultation and participation in decision-making along with a government response to the result.&lt;\/p&gt;\\n &lt;p&gt;Peers also voted by 132 to 124 \u2013 a majority of eight \u2013 in favour of a demand by former military chiefs that payments linked to the agreement would cease if the military base on Diego Garcia could no longer be used for a range of reasons from environmental changes and legal restrictions to an attack by a hostile state.&lt;\/p&gt;\\n&lt;\/blockquote&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;8930c2cb-b7ad-40da-98e2-be8fb37c74c8&quot;}],&quot;attributes&quot;:{&quot;pinned&quot;:false,&quot;keyEvent&quot;:true,&quot;summary&quot;:false},&quot;blockCreatedOn&quot;:1767691226000,&quot;blockCreatedOnDisplay&quot;:&quot;09.20\u00a0GMT&quot;,&quot;blockLastUpdated&quot;:1767698006000,&quot;blockLastUpdatedDisplay&quot;:&quot;11.13\u00a0GMT&quot;,&quot;blockFirstPublished&quot;:1767695465000,&quot;blockFirstPublishedDisplay&quot;:&quot;10.31\u00a0GMT&quot;,&quot;blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone&quot;:&quot;10.31&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;Government loses four votes in Lords on Chagos Islands bill&quot;,&quot;contributors&quot;:[],&quot;primaryDateLine&quot;:&quot;Tue 6 Jan 2026 12.46 GMT&quot;,&quot;secondaryDateLine&quot;:&quot;First published on Tue 6 Jan 2026 09.20 GMT&quot;},{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;695cdf6f8f088150d1a33b3c&quot;,&quot;elements&quot;:[{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Wes Streeting&lt;\/strong&gt;, the health secretary, was doing a media round on behalf of the government this morning. Like Kemi Badenoch (see &lt;a href=\\&quot;https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/politics\/live\/2026\/jan\/06\/badenoch-trump-venezuela-maduro-starmer-streeting-uk-politics-latest-news-updates?page=with%3Ablock-695cb8418f085ac3c3a8da1b#block-695cb8418f085ac3c3a8da1b\\&quot;&gt;9.20am&lt;\/a&gt;), he also acknowledged that support for the rules-based international order was weakening. But he sounded less willing than she was to accept this. He told GB News:&lt;\/p&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;f4247c50-324d-4c46-8c4b-e7d31db9a26a&quot;},{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;blockquote class=\\&quot;quoted\\&quot;&gt;\\n &lt;p&gt;The UK supports the rules-based international system. We have seen it creaking at the seams, and now we see it disintegrating.&lt;\/p&gt;\\n &lt;p&gt;It is our responsibility collectively to rebuild the rules-based international system, because a world in which countries are abiding by the same rules and working with each other is a world in which we are all safer, but we are a far cry from where we have been, sadly, since the Second World War in terms of upholding that rules-based international system.&lt;\/p&gt;\\n&lt;\/blockquote&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;acd2e5f3-50df-4d81-b44d-04def394e05a&quot;}],&quot;attributes&quot;:{&quot;pinned&quot;:false,&quot;keyEvent&quot;:true,&quot;summary&quot;:false},&quot;blockCreatedOn&quot;:1767694191000,&quot;blockCreatedOnDisplay&quot;:&quot;10.09\u00a0GMT&quot;,&quot;blockLastUpdated&quot;:1767694414000,&quot;blockLastUpdatedDisplay&quot;:&quot;10.13\u00a0GMT&quot;,&quot;blockFirstPublished&quot;:1767694414000,&quot;blockFirstPublishedDisplay&quot;:&quot;10.13\u00a0GMT&quot;,&quot;blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone&quot;:&quot;10.13&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;Wes Streeting says world will be safer with rules-based system, and it should be collectively rebuilt&quot;,&quot;contributors&quot;:[],&quot;primaryDateLine&quot;:&quot;Tue 6 Jan 2026 12.46 GMT&quot;,&quot;secondaryDateLine&quot;:&quot;First published on Tue 6 Jan 2026 09.20 GMT&quot;},{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;695cdde28f084bc8114dfefd&quot;,&quot;elements&quot;:[{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Keir Starmer&lt;\/strong&gt; has told his cabinet ministers that 2026 will be the year when they need to show that \u201crenewal is becoming reality\u201d.&lt;\/p&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;925e93f4-cf1e-4051-8907-83a5e872f82e&quot;},{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;p&gt;Speaking at the start of this morning\u2019s political cabinet, he said:&lt;\/p&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;b36c8ce7-cec4-4bba-9c65-70acb82fa523&quot;},{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;blockquote class=\\&quot;quoted\\&quot;&gt;\\n &lt;p&gt;This will be an important year as we show that renewal is becoming reality and that Britain is turning the corner.&lt;\/p&gt;\\n &lt;p&gt;Getting our country back on track is hard, difficult work and we will reject the politics of easy answers and gimmicks that, frankly, got us here in the first place.&lt;\/p&gt;\\n &lt;p&gt;At the next general election we will be judged on whether we\u2019ve delivered on things that really matter, do people feel better off, are public services improving \u2013 for which they will look to the NHS \u2013 and do people feel more safe and secure in their own community?&lt;\/p&gt;\\n &lt;p&gt;They are the issues we will be judged on at the next general election, that is our focus.&lt;\/p&gt;\\n&lt;\/blockquote&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;70585b92-639a-4327-8568-b211c66d97cf&quot;}],&quot;attributes&quot;:{&quot;pinned&quot;:false,&quot;keyEvent&quot;:true,&quot;summary&quot;:false},&quot;blockCreatedOn&quot;:1767693794000,&quot;blockCreatedOnDisplay&quot;:&quot;10.03\u00a0GMT&quot;,&quot;blockLastUpdated&quot;:1767693987000,&quot;blockLastUpdatedDisplay&quot;:&quot;10.06\u00a0GMT&quot;,&quot;blockFirstPublished&quot;:1767693988000,&quot;blockFirstPublishedDisplay&quot;:&quot;10.06\u00a0GMT&quot;,&quot;blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone&quot;:&quot;10.06&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;Starmer tells cabinet they need to show 2026 is year when 'renewal is becoming reality'&quot;,&quot;contributors&quot;:[],&quot;primaryDateLine&quot;:&quot;Tue 6 Jan 2026 12.46 GMT&quot;,&quot;secondaryDateLine&quot;:&quot;First published on Tue 6 Jan 2026 09.20 GMT&quot;},{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;695cd8ee8f08c5d6720dcf1a&quot;,&quot;elements&quot;:[{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;p&gt;In her Today programme interview, &lt;strong&gt;Kemi Badenoch&lt;\/strong&gt; also claimed that Brexit was not working because the UK is not \u201cdoing anything with it\u201d.&lt;\/p&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;6a236618-a7b3-457b-bd15-eb6d01e27b3f&quot;},{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;p&gt;Badenoch was an enthusiastic supporter of &lt;a href=\\&quot;https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/politics\/eu-referendum\\&quot; data-component=\\&quot;auto-linked-tag\\&quot;&gt;Brexit&lt;\/a&gt;, even though she was not an MP at the time of the 2016 referendum, and as a minister she was seen as a keen Brexiter.&lt;\/p&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;cd732cd3-44f3-4369-8438-556ba32c86bb&quot;},{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;p&gt;Asked by &lt;strong&gt;Nick Robinson&lt;\/strong&gt;, the presenter, how she thought Brexit was going, on a scale of one to 10, &lt;strong&gt;Badenoch&lt;\/strong&gt; replied:&lt;\/p&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;db0f207b-4636-4feb-97a9-2cde3a113bb8&quot;},{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;blockquote class=\\&quot;quoted\\&quot;&gt;\\n &lt;p&gt;We\u2019re not doing anything with it, that\u2019s the problem.&lt;\/p&gt;\\n&lt;\/blockquote&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;9341cdee-18ec-4205-a2eb-bba812a57539&quot;},{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;p&gt;Asked again how it was going, she said:&lt;\/p&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;f1190598-6b93-431a-8f9f-437eff2f2785&quot;},{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;blockquote class=\\&quot;quoted\\&quot;&gt;\\n &lt;p&gt;We successfully left the European Union, so 10 out of 10 for leaving. But using the opportunity \u2013 we\u2019re not using the opportunity \u2026&lt;\/p&gt;\\n &lt;p&gt;What I\u2019m saying is that nothing\u2019s happening. Nothing\u2019s happening.&lt;\/p&gt;\\n &lt;p&gt;We need to compete aggressively with other countries. We need to be close with Europe, not run by Europe. That is Conservative policy. Let\u2019s stay close to our regional and international allies. But sovereignty matters.&lt;\/p&gt;\\n&lt;\/blockquote&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;2dc6c32c-dff1-477b-bc4c-ada5c215303d&quot;},{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;p&gt;Britain formally left the EU in 2020 when Boris Johnson \u2013 like Badenoch, a hardline Brexiter \u2013 was prime minister. Some rightwingers argue that the UK would thrive outside the EU if it deregulated more aggressively, and diverged more from the EU. But in the four years they were in office after Brexit, the Tories did not implement the sort of policies Badenoch seems to be proposing because they judged they would not benefit the economy.&lt;\/p&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;d91efdd8-a4f0-465c-86fd-9882512ecd78&quot;},{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;p&gt;Recent research says Brexit has cut the UK\u2019s GDP &lt;a href=\\&quot;https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/politics\/live\/2025\/nov\/25\/nigel-farage-nathan-gill-labour-reform-uk-russia-keir-starmer-uk-politics-live-news?page=with%3Ablock-69258ba88f08dbc3291d0a1b#block-69258ba88f08dbc3291d0a1b\\&quot;&gt;by between 6% and 8%.&lt;\/a&gt;&lt;\/p&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;51f86183-4257-4587-8e4d-b21e8ece878c&quot;}],&quot;attributes&quot;:{&quot;pinned&quot;:false,&quot;keyEvent&quot;:true,&quot;summary&quot;:false},&quot;blockCreatedOn&quot;:1767692526000,&quot;blockCreatedOnDisplay&quot;:&quot;09.42\u00a0GMT&quot;,&quot;blockLastUpdated&quot;:1767693650000,&quot;blockLastUpdatedDisplay&quot;:&quot;10.00\u00a0GMT&quot;,&quot;blockFirstPublished&quot;:1767693548000,&quot;blockFirstPublishedDisplay&quot;:&quot;09.59\u00a0GMT&quot;,&quot;blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone&quot;:&quot;09.59&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;Badenoch claims Brexit not succeeding because UK 'not doing anything with it'&quot;,&quot;contributors&quot;:[],&quot;primaryDateLine&quot;:&quot;Tue 6 Jan 2026 12.46 GMT&quot;,&quot;secondaryDateLine&quot;:&quot;First published on Tue 6 Jan 2026 09.20 GMT&quot;},{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;695cc1ba8f08aeb1214745d1&quot;,&quot;elements&quot;:[{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;p&gt;A new plan to protect public services from cyber threats has been published today, PA Media reports. PA says:&lt;\/p&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;d6f0b64f-fd5f-4a5c-8846-8c7b2226a09e&quot;},{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;blockquote class=\\&quot;quoted\\&quot;&gt;\\n &lt;p&gt;The government has set out &lt;a href=\\&quot;https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/news\/new-cyber-action-plan-to-tackle-threats-and-strengthen-public-services\\&quot;&gt;measures to make online services more secure &lt;\/a&gt;and give the public confidence that their data is protected when applying for benefits, paying taxes or accessing healthcare.&lt;\/p&gt;\\n &lt;p&gt;The cyber action plan, backed by \u00a3210m, aims to highlight where risks lie across government and take joined-up action across departments as well as speeding up reactions to attacks.&lt;\/p&gt;\\n &lt;p&gt;It comes amid efforts to digitise services, which the government hopes will reduce phone queues and paperwork and says could unlock up to \u00a345bn in savings.&lt;\/p&gt;\\n &lt;p&gt;Digital government minister &lt;strong&gt;Ian Murray&lt;\/strong&gt; said: \u201cCyber attacks can take vital public services offline in minutes \u2013 disrupting our digital services and our very way of life. This plan sets a new bar to bolster the defences of our public sector, putting cyber-criminals on warning that we are going further and faster to protect the UK\u2019s businesses and public services alike.\u201d&lt;\/p&gt;\\n&lt;\/blockquote&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;37af4851-abc0-4a69-a1b2-a72465f97509&quot;}],&quot;attributes&quot;:{&quot;pinned&quot;:false,&quot;keyEvent&quot;:true,&quot;summary&quot;:false},&quot;blockCreatedOn&quot;:1767691226000,&quot;blockCreatedOnDisplay&quot;:&quot;09.20\u00a0GMT&quot;,&quot;blockLastUpdated&quot;:1767692467000,&quot;blockLastUpdatedDisplay&quot;:&quot;09.41\u00a0GMT&quot;,&quot;blockFirstPublished&quot;:1767692467000,&quot;blockFirstPublishedDisplay&quot;:&quot;09.41\u00a0GMT&quot;,&quot;blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone&quot;:&quot;09.41&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;Government publishes plan to protect public services from cyber threats&quot;,&quot;contributors&quot;:[],&quot;primaryDateLine&quot;:&quot;Tue 6 Jan 2026 12.46 GMT&quot;,&quot;secondaryDateLine&quot;:&quot;First published on Tue 6 Jan 2026 09.20 GMT&quot;},{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;695cd6dd8f08c5d6720dcf0b&quot;,&quot;elements&quot;:[{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;p&gt;Labour will switch to an \u201cincumbency first\u201d model to protect MPs at the next election rather than targeting seats, the deputy leader, &lt;strong&gt;&lt;a href=\\&quot;https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/politics\/lucy-powell\\&quot;&gt;Lucy Powell&lt;\/a&gt;,&lt;\/strong&gt; has told Labour MPs. &lt;strong&gt;Jessica Elgot&lt;\/strong&gt; has the story.&lt;\/p&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;4b5ff2c7-599c-4e52-a64d-3267c2c83b85&quot;},{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.RichLinkBlockElement&quot;,&quot;prefix&quot;:&quot;Related: &quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Labour to protect existing MPs above winning more seats at next election, deputy leader says&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;4b0e541d-7ba6-45a8-9a0e-b6e29c86432b&quot;,&quot;role&quot;:&quot;thumbnail&quot;,&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/politics\/2026\/jan\/06\/labour-election-strategy-protect-mp-over-winning-seats-deputy-pm&quot;}],&quot;attributes&quot;:{&quot;pinned&quot;:false,&quot;keyEvent&quot;:true,&quot;summary&quot;:false},&quot;blockCreatedOn&quot;:1767691997000,&quot;blockCreatedOnDisplay&quot;:&quot;09.33\u00a0GMT&quot;,&quot;blockLastUpdated&quot;:1767692049000,&quot;blockLastUpdatedDisplay&quot;:&quot;09.34\u00a0GMT&quot;,&quot;blockFirstPublished&quot;:1767692049000,&quot;blockFirstPublishedDisplay&quot;:&quot;09.34\u00a0GMT&quot;,&quot;blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone&quot;:&quot;09.34&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;Labour to protect existing MPs above winning more seats at next election, deputy leader Lucy Powell says&quot;,&quot;contributors&quot;:[],&quot;primaryDateLine&quot;:&quot;Tue 6 Jan 2026 12.46 GMT&quot;,&quot;secondaryDateLine&quot;:&quot;First published on Tue 6 Jan 2026 09.20 GMT&quot;},{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;695cb8418f085ac3c3a8da1b&quot;,&quot;elements&quot;:[{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;p&gt;Good morning. Over the last three days it has been hard to find anyone in British politics willing to defend the US raid on Venezuela leading to the capture of its president, Nicol\u00e1s Maduro. In the Commons last night, Yvette Cooper, the foreign secretary, engaged in a delicate balancing act \u2013 stressing the UK\u2019s support for international law, while doing her best not to criticise the fairly blatant US breach of it \u2013 as MPs from all the main parties lined up to demand a more robust pushback against &lt;a href=\\&quot;https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/donaldtrump\\&quot; data-component=\\&quot;auto-linked-tag\\&quot;&gt;Donald Trump&lt;\/a&gt;.&lt;\/p&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;6c2ef8e1-5bb0-4d7c-b934-f692f67fcd25&quot;},{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;p&gt;But this morning &lt;strong&gt;Kemi Badenoch&lt;\/strong&gt; has defended the US president. At the weekend, &lt;a href=\\&quot;https:\/\/x.com\/KemiBadenoch\/status\/2007469918178959818\\&quot;&gt;her initial response&lt;\/a&gt; was much like Keir Starmer\u2019s \u2013 noncommittal, and claiming that she could not give a proper view until more information was available. Even yesterday she was still &lt;a href=\\&quot;https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/politics\/live\/2026\/jan\/05\/uk-venezuela-response-starmer-trump-labour-conservatives-latest-news-updates?page=with%3Ablock-695b934f8f085ed25e9e3e62#block-695b934f8f085ed25e9e3e62\\&quot;&gt;broadly still sitting on the fence&lt;\/a&gt;.&lt;\/p&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;af87fa02-508b-44d0-afc4-e9b5b3c38b26&quot;},{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;p&gt;However, this morning, in a long interview with the Today programme (which is promising in-depth, start-of-year interviews with all the main party leaders), she declared that what Trump did was \u201cmorally \u2026 the right thing to do\u201d. She also implied that faith in the rules-based international order, sustained by international law, was overrated because the world did not operate like that any more.&lt;\/p&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;17f0ebda-efa4-4db6-bc83-9fb6ff39cd22&quot;},{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;p&gt;When it was put to her that Margaret Thatcher condemned the US invasion of Grenada in 1983, Badenoch said that Thatcher was right at the time, but that Trump\u2019s action was different. She went on:&lt;\/p&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;924d7db3-43f4-4212-8221-ba1278dc4760&quot;},{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;blockquote class=\\&quot;quoted\\&quot;&gt;\\n &lt;p&gt;Venezuela was a brutal regime. We didn\u2019t even recognise it as a legitimate government. I think that what\u2019s happened is quite extraordinary. But I understand why America has done it.&lt;\/p&gt;\\n &lt;p&gt;And the reason why I say this is because, where the legal certainty is not yet clear, morally I do think it was the right thing to do.&lt;\/p&gt;\\n&lt;\/blockquote&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;139bc67c-362c-478b-b3bd-66ac20ee60c7&quot;},{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;p&gt;Badenoch said she was saying this because she was different from other party leaders and MPs.&lt;\/p&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;e2f906b5-8f46-46c9-863e-d7e40c82b7c9&quot;},{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;blockquote class=\\&quot;quoted\\&quot;&gt;\\n &lt;p&gt;I grew up under a military dictatorship [in Nigeria], so I know what it\u2019s like to have someone like Maduro in charge. I know what it\u2019s like to have people celebrating in the street. So I\u2019m not condemning the US.&lt;\/p&gt;\\n&lt;\/blockquote&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;83fd6a89-bba7-4270-bbf7-1625950545d4&quot;},{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;p&gt;Asked again if sending special forces in to seize Maduro was the right thing to do, Badenoch replied: \u201cMorally, yes.\u201d&lt;\/p&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;ee36e972-3ec4-4b12-86a0-b1cec7ec2295&quot;},{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;p&gt;Badenoch did say that the invastion raised \u201cserious questions about the rules-based order\u201d. But, in another shift from the position adopted by &lt;a href=\\&quot;https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/politics\/keir-starmer\\&quot; data-component=\\&quot;auto-linked-tag\\&quot;&gt;Keir Starmer&lt;\/a&gt;, she went on to question how robust the rules-based international actually is any more. She explained:&lt;\/p&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;dc1f5c40-b0e1-44a3-afe8-0bdb5cdeb158&quot;},{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;blockquote class=\\&quot;quoted\\&quot;&gt;\\n &lt;p&gt;As we all know, international law is what countries agree to. Once people decide they don\u2019t agree, there is no international law. There\u2019s no world police, no world government, no world court. These are agreements.&lt;\/p&gt;\\n &lt;p&gt;And when we look at what the opposition leader, Mar\u00eda Machado, said, she said Venezuela had already been invaded. It had been invaded by Russia, by Iran, by Hezbollah. Where were the people talking about international law then?&lt;\/p&gt;\\n&lt;\/blockquote&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;bccbddd6-d53e-465d-9b3f-a7c1820d8b69&quot;},{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;p&gt;Badenoch was then asked if she agreed with &lt;strong&gt;Stephen Miller&lt;\/strong&gt;, Trump\u2019s deputy chief of staff, &lt;a href=\\&quot;https:\/\/thehill.com\/homenews\/administration\/5673959-miller-backs-trump-venezuela\/\\&quot;&gt;who said yesterday&lt;\/a&gt; that \u201cwe live in a world \u2026 that is governed by strength, that is governed by force, that is governed by power.\u201d &lt;strong&gt;Badenoch&lt;\/strong&gt; implied that she did. She replied:&lt;\/p&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;86c47095-2e43-43a9-b414-f8ccca92948e&quot;},{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;blockquote class=\\&quot;quoted\\&quot;&gt;\\n &lt;p&gt;The US has actually been saying this for a very long time. I remember as trade secretary, the US has basically walked away from the World Trade Organization saying that everybody else was breaking the rules, China in particular, and if people weren\u2019t following the rules, there was no rules-based order.&lt;\/p&gt;\\n &lt;p&gt;And we go through the motions, we act as if it is still 1995, we were living off the peace dividend of the cold war and World War Two.&lt;\/p&gt;\\n &lt;p&gt;The world has changed. What I want to see is a strong Britain. We can\u2019t control everything that the US does. Venezuela is very far away from here. It\u2019s not Grenada, for example. But what they do respect is strength. And we are getting weaker.&lt;\/p&gt;\\n&lt;\/blockquote&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;49d33f67-af0d-4ce6-a7ac-3273e8376db2&quot;},{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;p&gt;This is quite a bold position to take, not least because it is at odds with &lt;a href=\\&quot;https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/politics\/live\/2026\/jan\/05\/uk-venezuela-response-starmer-trump-labour-conservatives-latest-news-updates?page=with%3Ablock-695bf3408f085ac3c3a8d4cf#block-695bf3408f085ac3c3a8d4cf\\&quot;&gt;what most Britons think.&lt;\/a&gt;&lt;\/p&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;4ea1fbca-55bf-42d0-a5b2-1989093b1b53&quot;},{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;p&gt;I will post more from the interview shortly.&lt;\/p&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;0c43a5db-b4ab-4f5f-8302-9e484c79f0c8&quot;},{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;p&gt;Here is the agenda for the day.&lt;\/p&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;9ba62d3d-944c-4ccb-ab07-a203cd4fbe6c&quot;},{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;9am:&lt;\/em&gt; Keir Starmer chairs cabinet. Most of the meeting will be devoted to a political cabinet, where civil servants leave the room and ministers focus on party political matters \u2013 such as the Scottish parliament, Welsh Senedd and English local elections in May.&lt;\/p&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;f1073be6-2a96-4ff2-94f1-be848f0979b7&quot;},{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;10am:&lt;\/em&gt; Dave Hinton, chief executive of South East Water, gives evidence to the Commons environment committee about the Tunbridge Wells water shortage last month.&lt;\/p&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;ee0c6f4f-dbed-4180-81af-25e167b11454&quot;},{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;10.30am:&lt;\/em&gt; Stephen Doughty, a Foreign Office minister, gives evidence to the Commons foreign affairs committee as part of its inquiry into \u201cDisinformation diplomacy: How malign actors are seeking to undermine democracy\u201d.&lt;\/p&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;ba7cef11-ff10-4417-8e1e-914c9df00649&quot;},{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Morning:&lt;\/em&gt; &lt;a href=\\&quot;https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/politics\/kemi-badenoch\\&quot; data-component=\\&quot;auto-linked-tag\\&quot;&gt;Kemi Badenoch&lt;\/a&gt; is on a visit in London.&lt;\/p&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;337b5aef-4301-4d80-b07f-819010657020&quot;},{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;11.30am:&lt;\/em&gt; Ed Miliband, the energy secretary, takes questions in the Commons.&lt;\/p&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;d7f589a8-0fa0-4ebb-b29f-babd8da85778&quot;},{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Noon:&lt;\/em&gt; Downing Street holds a lobby briefing.&lt;\/p&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;afa26d30-6ab8-42e1-8eca-2275134df32d&quot;},{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Afternoon:&lt;\/em&gt; Keir Starmer joins other European leaders in Paris for a meeting of the \u201ccoalition of the willing\u201d group willing to provide security guarantees to Ukraine in the event of a ceasefire. Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the Ukrainian president, and Donald Trump\u2019s advisers Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are attending. A press conference is due at around 5.45pm.&lt;strong&gt;Frances Mao&lt;\/strong&gt; will be leading our coverage of this on &lt;a href=\\&quot;https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/live\/2026\/jan\/06\/coalition-willing-paris-ukraine-zelenskyy-greenland-denmark-venezuela-trump-latest-news-updates\\&quot;&gt;the Europe live blog&lt;\/a&gt;.&lt;\/p&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;30c0623e-5c35-43a0-a307-2fcf721a85b9&quot;},{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;2pm:&lt;\/em&gt; The Commons business committee takes evidence from former post office operators, laywers, the Post Office, ministers, and others about progress in Post Office Horizon scandal compensation payments.&lt;\/p&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;fcda4ae3-61f4-47d0-86a4-15f9d385c7f9&quot;},{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;2.30pm:&lt;\/em&gt; Craig Guildford, chief constable of West Midlands police and Mike O\u2019Hara, an assistant chief constable at WMP, give evidence to the Commons home affairs committee about claims they misrepresented the intelligence they used to justify their call for a ban on Maccabi Tel Aviv fans attending the Villa Park match last year.&lt;\/p&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;be6c380b-2196-4e51-b3a7-6e5d04b3db1f&quot;},{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;p&gt;If you want to contact me, please post a message below the line when comments are open (normally between 10am and 3pm at the moment), or message me on social media. I can\u2019t read all the messages BTL, but if you put \u201cAndrew\u201d in a message aimed at me, I am more likely to see it because I search for posts containing that word.&lt;\/p&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;93b43f12-6717-4a0c-b5a3-a53e37873bc6&quot;},{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;p&gt;If you want to flag something up urgently, it is best to use social media. You can reach me on Bluesky at @andrewsparrowgdn.bsky.social. The Guardian has &lt;a href=\\&quot;https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/media\/2024\/nov\/13\/the-guardian-no-longer-post-on-x-twitter-elon-musk\\&quot;&gt;given up posting from its official accounts on X&lt;\/a&gt;, but individual Guardian journalists are there, I still have my account, and if you message me there at @AndrewSparrow, I will see it and respond if necessary.&lt;\/p&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;d579f1eb-f58f-485c-8adf-95eca88fb70b&quot;},{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;p&gt;I find it very helpful when readers point out mistakes, even minor typos. No error is too small to correct. And I find your questions very interesting too. I can\u2019t promise to reply to them all, but I will try to reply to as many as I can, either BTL or sometimes in the blog.&lt;\/p&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;0006cce6-5588-408a-b738-b64a55ab6535&quot;},{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;UPDATE:&lt;\/em&gt; I have corrected the agenda because Dave Hinton is chief executive of South East Water, not South West Water as it originally said.&lt;\/p&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;4d15a4f9-5e1e-42cd-90f5-c22db6f8aead&quot;}],&quot;attributes&quot;:{&quot;pinned&quot;:false,&quot;keyEvent&quot;:true,&quot;summary&quot;:false},&quot;blockCreatedOn&quot;:1767691226000,&quot;blockCreatedOnDisplay&quot;:&quot;09.20\u00a0GMT&quot;,&quot;blockLastUpdated&quot;:1767701884000,&quot;blockLastUpdatedDisplay&quot;:&quot;12.18\u00a0GMT&quot;,&quot;blockFirstPublished&quot;:1767691226000,&quot;blockFirstPublishedDisplay&quot;:&quot;09.20\u00a0GMT&quot;,&quot;blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone&quot;:&quot;09.20&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;Kemi Badenoch says Trump\u2019s Venezuela raid was \u2018morally\u2019 right, as she suggests faith in rules-based global order overrated&quot;,&quot;contributors&quot;:[],&quot;primaryDateLine&quot;:&quot;Tue 6 Jan 2026 12.46 GMT&quot;,&quot;secondaryDateLine&quot;:&quot;First published on Tue 6 Jan 2026 09.20 GMT&quot;}],&quot;filterKeyEvents&quot;:false,&quot;id&quot;:&quot;key-events-carousel-mobile&quot;,&quot;renderingTarget&quot;:&quot;Web&quot;,&quot;serverTime&quot;:1767703666386}\"><span id=\"key-events-carousel-mobile\"\/><span class=\"dcr-90inr0\"><\/p>\n<p>Key events<\/p>\n<p><\/span><\/gu-island><gu-island name=\"FilterKeyEventsToggle\" priority=\"feature\" deferuntil=\"visible\" props=\"{&quot;filterKeyEvents&quot;:false,&quot;id&quot;:&quot;filter-toggle-mobile&quot;}\"><span id=\"filter-toggle-mobile\"\/><\/p>\n<div class=\"dcr-alru3r\"><label id=\"src-component-899_description\" data-component=\"filter-key-events\" data-link-name=\"filter-key-events-on\" class=\"dcr-rrspei\"><button id=\"src-component-899\" role=\"switch\" aria-checked=\"false\" aria-labelledby=\"src-component-899_description\" class=\"dcr-dh5oqp\"\/>Show key events only<\/p>\n<p><span>Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature<\/span><\/p>\n<p><\/label><\/div>\n<p><\/gu-island><\/span><\/p>\n<article id=\"block-695cfe118f08189717ef3705\" class=\"block dcr-1os4bxs\">\n<header class=\"dcr-88va8u\">\n<h2 class=\"dcr-1wl2b6o\">Starmer tells cabinet &#8216;governments don&#8217;t lose because polls go down&#8217; &#8211; as YouGov puts Labour behind Reform UK and Tories<\/h2>\n<\/header>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Before Christmas <strong>Keir Starmer<\/strong> was hoping to use this week to highlight the government\u2019s determination to bring down the cost of living for people. As explained <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/politics\/live\/2026\/jan\/05\/uk-venezuela-response-starmer-trump-labour-conservatives-latest-news-updates?page=with%3Ablock-695b6fd18f085ed25e9e3d7a#block-695b6fd18f085ed25e9e3d7a\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">on the blog yesterday<\/a>, Donald Trump has blown this out of the news with his raid on Venezuela.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">But Starmer has not abandoned the plan and, according to a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/politics\/labour\" data-link-name=\"in body link\" data-component=\"auto-linked-tag\">Labour<\/a> readout from the political cabinet this morning, he told his colleagues that the government should \u201ckeep a relentless focus on the cost of living, show relentless delivery of change people can feel and bring relentless clarity to drawing the choice ahead\u201d.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Referring to that choice, Starmer said:<\/p>\n<blockquote data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" class=\"dcr-154zxly\">\n<p><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 14\" style=\"fill:var(--block-quote-fill)\" class=\"dcr-scql1j\"><path d=\"M5.255 0h4.75c-.572 4.53-1.077 8.972-1.297 13.941H0C.792 9.104 2.44 4.53 5.255 0Zm11.061 0H21c-.506 4.53-1.077 8.972-1.297 13.941h-8.686c.902-4.837 2.485-9.411 5.3-13.941Z\"\/><\/svg>A Labour government renewing the country or a Reform movement that feeds on grievance, decline and division.<\/p>\n<p>They want a weaker state, they want to inject bile into our communities, they want to appease Putin. This is the fight of our political lives and one that we must relish.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Starmer also urged his ministers to ignore the polls<\/p>\n<blockquote data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" class=\"dcr-154zxly\">\n<p><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 14\" style=\"fill:var(--block-quote-fill)\" class=\"dcr-scql1j\"><path d=\"M5.255 0h4.75c-.572 4.53-1.077 8.972-1.297 13.941H0C.792 9.104 2.44 4.53 5.255 0Zm11.061 0H21c-.506 4.53-1.077 8.972-1.297 13.941h-8.686c.902-4.837 2.485-9.411 5.3-13.941Z\"\/><\/svg>I do not underestimate the scale of the task. But I have no doubt about this team. Governments do not lose because polls go down. They lose when they lose belief or nerve. We will do neither.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">(While Starmer is right to say that politicians should not be paralysed by poor poll ratings, because they can change a lot over three years [and sometimes they were wrong too], they can\u2019t ignore polls either. Governments may not lose <em>because<\/em> polls go down, but normally they do lose <em>when<\/em> polls go down. A YouGov poll out today has Labour for the first time in third place behind Reform UK and the Tories. See <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/politics\/live\/2026\/jan\/06\/badenoch-trump-venezuela-maduro-starmer-streeting-uk-politics-latest-news-updates?page=with%3Ablock-695ce5818f08cf9754d8e354#block-695ce5818f08cf9754d8e354\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">10.44am<\/a>.)<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><strong>Lucy Powell<\/strong>, the deputy Labour leader, attended politcal cabinet. According to the readout, she thanked Starmer and his team \u201cembracing me as deputy leader\u201d and said that she relished \u201chelping to tell the story of whose side we are on\u201d.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Ministers then discussed \u201csuccessful recoveries of centre-left parties in Norway, Australia and Canada through focussing on delivery and cost of living issues\u201d.<\/p>\n<footer class=\"dcr-3i7iba\"><gu-island name=\"ShareButton\" priority=\"feature\" deferuntil=\"visible\" props=\"{&quot;size&quot;:&quot;xsmall&quot;,&quot;pageId&quot;:&quot;politics\/live\/2026\/jan\/06\/badenoch-trump-venezuela-maduro-starmer-streeting-uk-politics-latest-news-updates&quot;,&quot;hash&quot;:&quot;block-695cfe118f08189717ef3705&quot;,&quot;queryParams&quot;:{&quot;page&quot;:&quot;with:block-695cfe118f08189717ef3705&quot;},&quot;webTitle&quot;:&quot;Kemi Badenoch says Trump\u2019s Venezuela raid was \u2018morally\u2019 right \u2013 UK politics live&quot;,&quot;format&quot;:{&quot;design&quot;:11,&quot;display&quot;:0,&quot;theme&quot;:0},&quot;context&quot;:&quot;LiveBlock&quot;}\"><a href=\"mailto:?subject=Kemi Badenoch says Trump\u2019s Venezuela raid was \u2018morally\u2019 right \u2013 UK politics live&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/politics\/live\/2026\/jan\/06\/badenoch-trump-venezuela-maduro-starmer-streeting-uk-politics-latest-news-updates?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-695cfe118f08189717ef3705#block-695cfe118f08189717ef3705\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-1mulgdf\">Share<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewbox=\"-3 -3 30 30\" focusable=\"false\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path fill-rule=\"evenodd\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\" d=\"M19 16c1.675 0 3 1.35 3 3 0 1.675-1.325 3-3 3a2.97 2.97 0 0 1-2.975-3c0-.125 0-.275.025-.375L7.1 14.15a2.9 2.9 0 0 1-2.075.825C3.325 14.975 2 13.65 2 12a3.004 3.004 0 0 1 3.025-3.025c.775 0 1.5.35 2.075.875l8.95-4.475c-.025-.1-.025-.225-.025-.4A2.966 2.966 0 0 1 19 2c1.675 0 3 1.325 3 2.975C22 6.65 20.675 8 19 8c-.8 0-1.475-.325-2.05-.825l-8.975 4.45C8 11.7 8 11.825 8 12s0 .3-.025.375l8.975 4.45c.575-.5 1.25-.825 2.05-.825m0-12.8c-.975 0-1.8.775-1.8 1.775S18.025 6.8 19 6.8c1 0 1.825-.825 1.825-1.825S20 3.2 19 3.2m0 17.6c1 0 1.825-.825 1.825-1.8 0-1-.825-1.8-1.825-1.8-.975 0-1.8.8-1.8 1.8 0 .975.825 1.8 1.8 1.8\"\/><\/svg><\/a><\/gu-island><\/p>\n<p>Updated at\u00a0<time datetime=\"2026-01-06T12:46:37.000Z\" data-locale=\"en-gb\" title=\"Tuesday, 6 January 2026 at 12:46 Greenwich Mean Time\">12.46 GMT<\/time><\/p>\n<\/footer>\n<\/article>\n<aside data-ad-slot=\"true\" class=\"ad-slot-container ad-slot-desktop dcr-jko40v\"\/>\n<aside data-ad-slot=\"true\" class=\"ad-slot-container dcr-jko40v\"\/>\n<article id=\"block-695cf3c98f08cf9754d8e3f6\" class=\"block dcr-1os4bxs\">\n<header class=\"dcr-88va8u\">\n<h2 class=\"dcr-1wl2b6o\">Badenoch claims (wrongly) she started championing net zero scepticism before Nigel Farage<\/h2>\n<\/header>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">In her Today programme interview this morning <strong>Kemi Badenoch<\/strong> tried to outflank Nigel Farage on net zero scepticism by claiming (wrongly) that she started talking out this before he did.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Asked by the presenter, <strong>Nick Robinson<\/strong>, to give an example of a single policy that the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/politics\/conservatives\" data-link-name=\"in body link\" data-component=\"auto-linked-tag\">Conservatives<\/a> would implement to boost economic growth, <strong>Badenoch<\/strong> said that they would allow more drilling for oil in the North Sea.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">When <strong>Robinson<\/strong> said it was interesting to note that she was proposing a policy that Farage had been championing for years, <strong>Badenoch<\/strong> did not accept that. She said that she had a long history of being sceptical about net zero targets and she claimed that, when the Theresa May government legislated for the 2050 net zero target in 2019, she was the only Tory MP who questioned whether this was affordable. She went on:<\/p>\n<blockquote data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" class=\"dcr-154zxly\">\n<p><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 14\" style=\"fill:var(--block-quote-fill)\" class=\"dcr-scql1j\"><path d=\"M5.255 0h4.75c-.572 4.53-1.077 8.972-1.297 13.941H0C.792 9.104 2.44 4.53 5.255 0Zm11.061 0H21c-.506 4.53-1.077 8.972-1.297 13.941h-8.686c.902-4.837 2.485-9.411 5.3-13.941Z\"\/><\/svg>There wasn\u2019t a Reform party then \u2026<\/p>\n<p>I have always been a net zero sceptic, even in government. I was the one who argued that we need to bring back some of these targets \u2026 I\u2019ve been consistent. Nigel Farage is following me.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Badenoch is right to say that, in 2019, when MPs were debating the order setting 2050 as the net zero target, she questioned whether this was achievable. But her intervention in the short debate as a backbencher <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/politics\/live\/2025\/mar\/18\/disability-benefits-cuts-pip-liz-kendall-labour-kemi-badenoch-conservatives-uk-politics-latest-updates-news?page=with%3Ablock-67d958288f0846970b3a2ec8#block-67d958288f0846970b3a2ec8\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">consisted of two sentences<\/a>, and she did not vote against the move.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">But <strong>Farage<\/strong> has been a climate change sceptic for years. In 2015, as Ukip leader, he was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.spiked-online.com\/2015\/03\/09\/im-taking-on-the-establishment-and-they-hate-me-for-it\/#.VQBBLnysXks\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">telling interviewers<\/a> that he hadn\u2019t \u201cgot a clue whether climate change is being driven by carbon-dioxide emissions\u201d and that efforts to cut carbon production in the UK made \u201cno sense at all\u201d. The <strong>VoteClimate<\/strong> website has an archive of his historic tweets about climate change <a href=\"https:\/\/voteclimate.uk\/mps\/nigel-farage\/tweets#tabs\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Asked if she thought it would be better to have Farage as PM or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/politics\/keir-starmer\" data-link-name=\"in body link\" data-component=\"auto-linked-tag\">Keir Starmer<\/a>, <strong>Badenoch<\/strong> said they were both \u201cbad in different ways\u201d. She explained:<\/p>\n<blockquote data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" class=\"dcr-154zxly\">\n<p><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 14\" style=\"fill:var(--block-quote-fill)\" class=\"dcr-scql1j\"><path d=\"M5.255 0h4.75c-.572 4.53-1.077 8.972-1.297 13.941H0C.792 9.104 2.44 4.53 5.255 0Zm11.061 0H21c-.506 4.53-1.077 8.972-1.297 13.941h-8.686c.902-4.837 2.485-9.411 5.3-13.941Z\"\/><\/svg>Keir Starmer doesn\u2019t have a plan, doesn\u2019t have an agenda. He\u2019s weak.<\/p>\n<p>Nigel Farage is a one-man band who is all about himself and would make a mess of things. [He] doesn\u2019t do detail.<\/p>\n<p>We need a serious, credible, competent party [the Conservatives].<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<footer class=\"dcr-3i7iba\"><gu-island name=\"ShareButton\" priority=\"feature\" deferuntil=\"visible\" props=\"{&quot;size&quot;:&quot;xsmall&quot;,&quot;pageId&quot;:&quot;politics\/live\/2026\/jan\/06\/badenoch-trump-venezuela-maduro-starmer-streeting-uk-politics-latest-news-updates&quot;,&quot;hash&quot;:&quot;block-695cf3c98f08cf9754d8e3f6&quot;,&quot;queryParams&quot;:{&quot;page&quot;:&quot;with:block-695cf3c98f08cf9754d8e3f6&quot;},&quot;webTitle&quot;:&quot;Kemi Badenoch says Trump\u2019s Venezuela raid was \u2018morally\u2019 right \u2013 UK politics live&quot;,&quot;format&quot;:{&quot;design&quot;:11,&quot;display&quot;:0,&quot;theme&quot;:0},&quot;context&quot;:&quot;LiveBlock&quot;}\"><a href=\"mailto:?subject=Kemi Badenoch says Trump\u2019s Venezuela raid was \u2018morally\u2019 right \u2013 UK politics live&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/politics\/live\/2026\/jan\/06\/badenoch-trump-venezuela-maduro-starmer-streeting-uk-politics-latest-news-updates?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-695cf3c98f08cf9754d8e3f6#block-695cf3c98f08cf9754d8e3f6\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-1mulgdf\">Share<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewbox=\"-3 -3 30 30\" focusable=\"false\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path fill-rule=\"evenodd\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\" d=\"M19 16c1.675 0 3 1.35 3 3 0 1.675-1.325 3-3 3a2.97 2.97 0 0 1-2.975-3c0-.125 0-.275.025-.375L7.1 14.15a2.9 2.9 0 0 1-2.075.825C3.325 14.975 2 13.65 2 12a3.004 3.004 0 0 1 3.025-3.025c.775 0 1.5.35 2.075.875l8.95-4.475c-.025-.1-.025-.225-.025-.4A2.966 2.966 0 0 1 19 2c1.675 0 3 1.325 3 2.975C22 6.65 20.675 8 19 8c-.8 0-1.475-.325-2.05-.825l-8.975 4.45C8 11.7 8 11.825 8 12s0 .3-.025.375l8.975 4.45c.575-.5 1.25-.825 2.05-.825m0-12.8c-.975 0-1.8.775-1.8 1.775S18.025 6.8 19 6.8c1 0 1.825-.825 1.825-1.825S20 3.2 19 3.2m0 17.6c1 0 1.825-.825 1.825-1.8 0-1-.825-1.8-1.825-1.8-.975 0-1.8.8-1.8 1.8 0 .975.825 1.8 1.8 1.8\"\/><\/svg><\/a><\/gu-island><\/p>\n<p>Updated at\u00a0<time datetime=\"2026-01-06T12:27:08.000Z\" data-locale=\"en-gb\" title=\"Tuesday, 6 January 2026 at 12:27 Greenwich Mean Time\">12.27 GMT<\/time><\/p>\n<\/footer>\n<\/article>\n<aside data-ad-slot=\"true\" class=\"ad-slot-container dcr-jko40v\"\/>\n<article id=\"block-695cc1db8f08c8e556cdf16f\" class=\"block dcr-1os4bxs\">\n<header class=\"dcr-88va8u\">\n<h2 class=\"dcr-1wl2b6o\">Israel blocking aid trucks from entering Gaza &#8216;unforgivable&#8217;, Middle East minister Hamish Falconer tells MPs<\/h2>\n<\/header>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">There were three urgent questions in the Commons yesterday, and two statements. Some of them were unusually long, which meant that the final statement, from <strong>Hamish Falconer<\/strong>, the Middle East minister, did not start until 8.30pm. In it, he said that what was happening as a result of Israel blocking aid getting into Gaza was \u201cunforgiveable\u201d.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">He said:<\/p>\n<blockquote data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" class=\"dcr-154zxly\">\n<p><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 14\" style=\"fill:var(--block-quote-fill)\" class=\"dcr-scql1j\"><path d=\"M5.255 0h4.75c-.572 4.53-1.077 8.972-1.297 13.941H0C.792 9.104 2.44 4.53 5.255 0Zm11.061 0H21c-.506 4.53-1.077 8.972-1.297 13.941h-8.686c.902-4.837 2.485-9.411 5.3-13.941Z\"\/><\/svg>More trucks are entering Gaza, and this is very welcome, but right now, key crossings remain closed, convoys are being turned back, medical and shelter supplies are blocked, and NGOs are being banned.<\/p>\n<p>We joined nine other countries in stating that this is not acceptable, over the recess. The peace plan cannot work if NGOs are shut out. Israel\u2019s decision to ban 37 of them is unjustifiable.<\/p>\n<p>Furthermore, many trucks entering Gaza carry commercial goods, which face fewer barriers than humanitarian aid.<\/p>\n<p>This means, perversely, it is currently easier to get cigarettes and luxury goods into Gaza than the basic medicines and shelter that people so desperately need.<\/p>\n<p>Too much aid is still stuck at Gaza\u2019s borders. Thousands of tents and shelter supplies funded by the UK are waiting to get in.<\/p>\n<p>Families are sheltering from winter floods and storms under rubble. They are suffering from hypothermia and sewage running in the streets. This is unforgivable.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<footer class=\"dcr-3i7iba\"><gu-island name=\"ShareButton\" priority=\"feature\" deferuntil=\"visible\" props=\"{&quot;size&quot;:&quot;xsmall&quot;,&quot;pageId&quot;:&quot;politics\/live\/2026\/jan\/06\/badenoch-trump-venezuela-maduro-starmer-streeting-uk-politics-latest-news-updates&quot;,&quot;hash&quot;:&quot;block-695cc1db8f08c8e556cdf16f&quot;,&quot;queryParams&quot;:{&quot;page&quot;:&quot;with:block-695cc1db8f08c8e556cdf16f&quot;},&quot;webTitle&quot;:&quot;Kemi Badenoch says Trump\u2019s Venezuela raid was \u2018morally\u2019 right \u2013 UK politics live&quot;,&quot;format&quot;:{&quot;design&quot;:11,&quot;display&quot;:0,&quot;theme&quot;:0},&quot;context&quot;:&quot;LiveBlock&quot;}\"><a href=\"mailto:?subject=Kemi Badenoch says Trump\u2019s Venezuela raid was \u2018morally\u2019 right \u2013 UK politics live&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/politics\/live\/2026\/jan\/06\/badenoch-trump-venezuela-maduro-starmer-streeting-uk-politics-latest-news-updates?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-695cc1db8f08c8e556cdf16f#block-695cc1db8f08c8e556cdf16f\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-1mulgdf\">Share<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewbox=\"-3 -3 30 30\" focusable=\"false\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path fill-rule=\"evenodd\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\" d=\"M19 16c1.675 0 3 1.35 3 3 0 1.675-1.325 3-3 3a2.97 2.97 0 0 1-2.975-3c0-.125 0-.275.025-.375L7.1 14.15a2.9 2.9 0 0 1-2.075.825C3.325 14.975 2 13.65 2 12a3.004 3.004 0 0 1 3.025-3.025c.775 0 1.5.35 2.075.875l8.95-4.475c-.025-.1-.025-.225-.025-.4A2.966 2.966 0 0 1 19 2c1.675 0 3 1.325 3 2.975C22 6.65 20.675 8 19 8c-.8 0-1.475-.325-2.05-.825l-8.975 4.45C8 11.7 8 11.825 8 12s0 .3-.025.375l8.975 4.45c.575-.5 1.25-.825 2.05-.825m0-12.8c-.975 0-1.8.775-1.8 1.775S18.025 6.8 19 6.8c1 0 1.825-.825 1.825-1.825S20 3.2 19 3.2m0 17.6c1 0 1.825-.825 1.825-1.8 0-1-.825-1.8-1.825-1.8-.975 0-1.8.8-1.8 1.8 0 .975.825 1.8 1.8 1.8\"\/><\/svg><\/a><\/gu-island><\/p>\n<p>Updated at\u00a0<time datetime=\"2026-01-06T11:17:37.000Z\" data-locale=\"en-gb\" title=\"Tuesday, 6 January 2026 at 11:17 Greenwich Mean Time\">11.17 GMT<\/time><\/p>\n<\/footer>\n<\/article>\n<aside data-ad-slot=\"true\" class=\"ad-slot-container ad-slot-desktop dcr-jko40v\"\/>\n<article id=\"block-695ce5818f08cf9754d8e354\" class=\"block dcr-1os4bxs\">\n<header class=\"dcr-88va8u\"\/>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">The latest <strong>YouGov<\/strong> weekly poll for the Times and Sky News has the Conservatives ahead of Labour for the first time since the general election, <strong>Stefan Boscia<\/strong> from the Times <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/Stefan_Boscia\/status\/2008439861519270019\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">reports<\/a>. Reform UK remains well ahead of both of them.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"c9413e63-8f0f-40de-b2f5-fead9039d88b\" data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" data-spacefinder-type=\"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.ImageBlockElement\" class=\"dcr-173mewl\"><figcaption data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" class=\"dcr-fd61eq\"><span class=\"dcr-1inf02i\"><svg width=\"18\" height=\"13\" viewbox=\"0 0 18 13\"><path d=\"M18 3.5v8l-1.5 1.5h-15l-1.5-1.5v-8l1.5-1.5h3.5l2-2h4l2 2h3.5l1.5 1.5zm-9 7.5c1.9 0 3.5-1.6 3.5-3.5s-1.6-3.5-3.5-3.5-3.5 1.6-3.5 3.5 1.6 3.5 3.5 3.5z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><span class=\"dcr-1qvd3m6\">YouGov poll<\/span> Photograph: The Times<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Here are the figures with the changes since the last YouGov poll.<\/p>\n<blockquote data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" class=\"dcr-154zxly\">\n<p><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 14\" style=\"fill:var(--block-quote-fill)\" class=\"dcr-scql1j\"><path d=\"M5.255 0h4.75c-.572 4.53-1.077 8.972-1.297 13.941H0C.792 9.104 2.44 4.53 5.255 0Zm11.061 0H21c-.506 4.53-1.077 8.972-1.297 13.941h-8.686c.902-4.837 2.485-9.411 5.3-13.941Z\"\/><\/svg>RFM 26% (+1)<\/p>\n<p>CON 19% (=)<\/p>\n<p>LAB 17% (-3)<\/p>\n<p>LDEM 16% (+1)<\/p>\n<p>GRN 15% (=)<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<footer class=\"dcr-3i7iba\"><gu-island name=\"ShareButton\" priority=\"feature\" deferuntil=\"visible\" props=\"{&quot;size&quot;:&quot;xsmall&quot;,&quot;pageId&quot;:&quot;politics\/live\/2026\/jan\/06\/badenoch-trump-venezuela-maduro-starmer-streeting-uk-politics-latest-news-updates&quot;,&quot;hash&quot;:&quot;block-695ce5818f08cf9754d8e354&quot;,&quot;queryParams&quot;:{&quot;page&quot;:&quot;with:block-695ce5818f08cf9754d8e354&quot;},&quot;webTitle&quot;:&quot;Kemi Badenoch says Trump\u2019s Venezuela raid was \u2018morally\u2019 right \u2013 UK politics live&quot;,&quot;format&quot;:{&quot;design&quot;:11,&quot;display&quot;:0,&quot;theme&quot;:0},&quot;context&quot;:&quot;LiveBlock&quot;}\"><a href=\"mailto:?subject=Kemi Badenoch says Trump\u2019s Venezuela raid was \u2018morally\u2019 right \u2013 UK politics live&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/politics\/live\/2026\/jan\/06\/badenoch-trump-venezuela-maduro-starmer-streeting-uk-politics-latest-news-updates?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-695ce5818f08cf9754d8e354#block-695ce5818f08cf9754d8e354\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-1mulgdf\">Share<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewbox=\"-3 -3 30 30\" focusable=\"false\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path fill-rule=\"evenodd\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\" d=\"M19 16c1.675 0 3 1.35 3 3 0 1.675-1.325 3-3 3a2.97 2.97 0 0 1-2.975-3c0-.125 0-.275.025-.375L7.1 14.15a2.9 2.9 0 0 1-2.075.825C3.325 14.975 2 13.65 2 12a3.004 3.004 0 0 1 3.025-3.025c.775 0 1.5.35 2.075.875l8.95-4.475c-.025-.1-.025-.225-.025-.4A2.966 2.966 0 0 1 19 2c1.675 0 3 1.325 3 2.975C22 6.65 20.675 8 19 8c-.8 0-1.475-.325-2.05-.825l-8.975 4.45C8 11.7 8 11.825 8 12s0 .3-.025.375l8.975 4.45c.575-.5 1.25-.825 2.05-.825m0-12.8c-.975 0-1.8.775-1.8 1.775S18.025 6.8 19 6.8c1 0 1.825-.825 1.825-1.825S20 3.2 19 3.2m0 17.6c1 0 1.825-.825 1.825-1.8 0-1-.825-1.8-1.825-1.8-.975 0-1.8.8-1.8 1.8 0 .975.825 1.8 1.8 1.8\"\/><\/svg><\/a><\/gu-island><\/footer>\n<\/article>\n<aside data-ad-slot=\"true\" class=\"ad-slot-container dcr-jko40v\"\/>\n<article id=\"block-695cc1f78f08aeb1214745d4\" class=\"block dcr-1os4bxs\">\n<header class=\"dcr-88va8u\">\n<h2 class=\"dcr-1wl2b6o\">Government loses four votes in Lords on Chagos Islands bill<\/h2>\n<\/header>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Peers inflicted four defeats on the government last night as they debated the bill to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, PA Media reports. PA says:<\/p>\n<blockquote data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" class=\"dcr-154zxly\">\n<p><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 14\" style=\"fill:var(--block-quote-fill)\" class=\"dcr-scql1j\"><path d=\"M5.255 0h4.75c-.572 4.53-1.077 8.972-1.297 13.941H0C.792 9.104 2.44 4.53 5.255 0Zm11.061 0H21c-.506 4.53-1.077 8.972-1.297 13.941h-8.686c.902-4.837 2.485-9.411 5.3-13.941Z\"\/><\/svg>The government signed a treaty back in May to return sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, which will also see Britain lease back the strategically important military base on Diego Garcia \u2013 the largest island within the remote Indian Ocean archipelago.<\/p>\n<p>As well as establishing a \u00a340m fund for Chagossians expelled from the islands, the UK has agreed to pay Mauritius at least \u00a3120m annually during the 99-year agreement, a total cost in cash terms of at least \u00a313bn.<\/p>\n<p>The Diego Garcia military base and British Indian Ocean Territory bill has already passed the Commons. But, at third reading in the Lords yesterday, peers backed by 194 votes to 130 \u2013 a majority of 64 \u2013 a Tory measure which would force the government to publish the total cost of the payments to be made to Mauritius, including the full methodology used in the calculation.<\/p>\n<p>Peers went on to narrowly vote by 131 to 127 \u2013 a majority of four &#8211; for a Liberal Democrat provision that would ensure parliamentary oversight over UK government spending linked to the treaty, which would also allow MPs to halt payments if Mauritius was judged to have breached the terms of the deal.<\/p>\n<p>In an earlier government setback, the Lords supported by 210 votes to 132 \u2013 a majority of 78 \u2013 a Liberal Democrat change requiring a referendum among the Chagossian community on whether the transfer deal adequately guaranteed their rights to resettlement, consultation and participation in decision-making along with a government response to the result.<\/p>\n<p>Peers also voted by 132 to 124 \u2013 a majority of eight \u2013 in favour of a demand by former military chiefs that payments linked to the agreement would cease if the military base on Diego Garcia could no longer be used for a range of reasons from environmental changes and legal restrictions to an attack by a hostile state.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<footer class=\"dcr-3i7iba\"><gu-island name=\"ShareButton\" priority=\"feature\" deferuntil=\"visible\" props=\"{&quot;size&quot;:&quot;xsmall&quot;,&quot;pageId&quot;:&quot;politics\/live\/2026\/jan\/06\/badenoch-trump-venezuela-maduro-starmer-streeting-uk-politics-latest-news-updates&quot;,&quot;hash&quot;:&quot;block-695cc1f78f08aeb1214745d4&quot;,&quot;queryParams&quot;:{&quot;page&quot;:&quot;with:block-695cc1f78f08aeb1214745d4&quot;},&quot;webTitle&quot;:&quot;Kemi Badenoch says Trump\u2019s Venezuela raid was \u2018morally\u2019 right \u2013 UK politics live&quot;,&quot;format&quot;:{&quot;design&quot;:11,&quot;display&quot;:0,&quot;theme&quot;:0},&quot;context&quot;:&quot;LiveBlock&quot;}\"><a href=\"mailto:?subject=Kemi Badenoch says Trump\u2019s Venezuela raid was \u2018morally\u2019 right \u2013 UK politics live&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/politics\/live\/2026\/jan\/06\/badenoch-trump-venezuela-maduro-starmer-streeting-uk-politics-latest-news-updates?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-695cc1f78f08aeb1214745d4#block-695cc1f78f08aeb1214745d4\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-1mulgdf\">Share<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewbox=\"-3 -3 30 30\" focusable=\"false\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path fill-rule=\"evenodd\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\" d=\"M19 16c1.675 0 3 1.35 3 3 0 1.675-1.325 3-3 3a2.97 2.97 0 0 1-2.975-3c0-.125 0-.275.025-.375L7.1 14.15a2.9 2.9 0 0 1-2.075.825C3.325 14.975 2 13.65 2 12a3.004 3.004 0 0 1 3.025-3.025c.775 0 1.5.35 2.075.875l8.95-4.475c-.025-.1-.025-.225-.025-.4A2.966 2.966 0 0 1 19 2c1.675 0 3 1.325 3 2.975C22 6.65 20.675 8 19 8c-.8 0-1.475-.325-2.05-.825l-8.975 4.45C8 11.7 8 11.825 8 12s0 .3-.025.375l8.975 4.45c.575-.5 1.25-.825 2.05-.825m0-12.8c-.975 0-1.8.775-1.8 1.775S18.025 6.8 19 6.8c1 0 1.825-.825 1.825-1.825S20 3.2 19 3.2m0 17.6c1 0 1.825-.825 1.825-1.8 0-1-.825-1.8-1.825-1.8-.975 0-1.8.8-1.8 1.8 0 .975.825 1.8 1.8 1.8\"\/><\/svg><\/a><\/gu-island><\/p>\n<p>Updated at\u00a0<time datetime=\"2026-01-06T11:13:26.000Z\" data-locale=\"en-gb\" title=\"Tuesday, 6 January 2026 at 11:13 Greenwich Mean Time\">11.13 GMT<\/time><\/p>\n<\/footer>\n<\/article>\n<aside data-ad-slot=\"true\" class=\"ad-slot-container ad-slot-desktop dcr-jko40v\"\/>\n<aside data-ad-slot=\"true\" class=\"ad-slot-container dcr-jko40v\"\/>\n<article id=\"block-695cdf6f8f088150d1a33b3c\" class=\"block dcr-1os4bxs\">\n<header class=\"dcr-88va8u\">\n<h2 class=\"dcr-1wl2b6o\">Wes Streeting says world will be safer with rules-based system, and it should be collectively rebuilt<\/h2>\n<\/header>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><strong>Wes Streeting<\/strong>, the health secretary, was doing a media round on behalf of the government this morning. Like Kemi Badenoch (see <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/politics\/live\/2026\/jan\/06\/badenoch-trump-venezuela-maduro-starmer-streeting-uk-politics-latest-news-updates?page=with%3Ablock-695cb8418f085ac3c3a8da1b#block-695cb8418f085ac3c3a8da1b\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">9.20am<\/a>), he also acknowledged that support for the rules-based international order was weakening. But he sounded less willing than she was to accept this. He told GB News:<\/p>\n<blockquote data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" class=\"dcr-154zxly\">\n<p><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 14\" style=\"fill:var(--block-quote-fill)\" class=\"dcr-scql1j\"><path d=\"M5.255 0h4.75c-.572 4.53-1.077 8.972-1.297 13.941H0C.792 9.104 2.44 4.53 5.255 0Zm11.061 0H21c-.506 4.53-1.077 8.972-1.297 13.941h-8.686c.902-4.837 2.485-9.411 5.3-13.941Z\"\/><\/svg>The UK supports the rules-based international system. We have seen it creaking at the seams, and now we see it disintegrating.<\/p>\n<p>It is our responsibility collectively to rebuild the rules-based international system, because a world in which countries are abiding by the same rules and working with each other is a world in which we are all safer, but we are a far cry from where we have been, sadly, since the Second World War in terms of upholding that rules-based international system.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<footer class=\"dcr-3i7iba\"><gu-island name=\"ShareButton\" priority=\"feature\" deferuntil=\"visible\" props=\"{&quot;size&quot;:&quot;xsmall&quot;,&quot;pageId&quot;:&quot;politics\/live\/2026\/jan\/06\/badenoch-trump-venezuela-maduro-starmer-streeting-uk-politics-latest-news-updates&quot;,&quot;hash&quot;:&quot;block-695cdf6f8f088150d1a33b3c&quot;,&quot;queryParams&quot;:{&quot;page&quot;:&quot;with:block-695cdf6f8f088150d1a33b3c&quot;},&quot;webTitle&quot;:&quot;Kemi Badenoch says Trump\u2019s Venezuela raid was \u2018morally\u2019 right \u2013 UK politics live&quot;,&quot;format&quot;:{&quot;design&quot;:11,&quot;display&quot;:0,&quot;theme&quot;:0},&quot;context&quot;:&quot;LiveBlock&quot;}\"><a href=\"mailto:?subject=Kemi Badenoch says Trump\u2019s Venezuela raid was \u2018morally\u2019 right \u2013 UK politics live&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/politics\/live\/2026\/jan\/06\/badenoch-trump-venezuela-maduro-starmer-streeting-uk-politics-latest-news-updates?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-695cdf6f8f088150d1a33b3c#block-695cdf6f8f088150d1a33b3c\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-1mulgdf\">Share<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewbox=\"-3 -3 30 30\" focusable=\"false\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path fill-rule=\"evenodd\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\" d=\"M19 16c1.675 0 3 1.35 3 3 0 1.675-1.325 3-3 3a2.97 2.97 0 0 1-2.975-3c0-.125 0-.275.025-.375L7.1 14.15a2.9 2.9 0 0 1-2.075.825C3.325 14.975 2 13.65 2 12a3.004 3.004 0 0 1 3.025-3.025c.775 0 1.5.35 2.075.875l8.95-4.475c-.025-.1-.025-.225-.025-.4A2.966 2.966 0 0 1 19 2c1.675 0 3 1.325 3 2.975C22 6.65 20.675 8 19 8c-.8 0-1.475-.325-2.05-.825l-8.975 4.45C8 11.7 8 11.825 8 12s0 .3-.025.375l8.975 4.45c.575-.5 1.25-.825 2.05-.825m0-12.8c-.975 0-1.8.775-1.8 1.775S18.025 6.8 19 6.8c1 0 1.825-.825 1.825-1.825S20 3.2 19 3.2m0 17.6c1 0 1.825-.825 1.825-1.8 0-1-.825-1.8-1.825-1.8-.975 0-1.8.8-1.8 1.8 0 .975.825 1.8 1.8 1.8\"\/><\/svg><\/a><\/gu-island><\/footer>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"block-695cdde28f084bc8114dfefd\" class=\"block dcr-1os4bxs\">\n<header class=\"dcr-88va8u\">\n<h2 class=\"dcr-1wl2b6o\">Starmer tells cabinet they need to show 2026 is year when &#8216;renewal is becoming reality&#8217;<\/h2>\n<\/header>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><strong>Keir Starmer<\/strong> has told his cabinet ministers that 2026 will be the year when they need to show that \u201crenewal is becoming reality\u201d.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Speaking at the start of this morning\u2019s political cabinet, he said:<\/p>\n<blockquote data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" class=\"dcr-154zxly\">\n<p><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 14\" style=\"fill:var(--block-quote-fill)\" class=\"dcr-scql1j\"><path d=\"M5.255 0h4.75c-.572 4.53-1.077 8.972-1.297 13.941H0C.792 9.104 2.44 4.53 5.255 0Zm11.061 0H21c-.506 4.53-1.077 8.972-1.297 13.941h-8.686c.902-4.837 2.485-9.411 5.3-13.941Z\"\/><\/svg>This will be an important year as we show that renewal is becoming reality and that Britain is turning the corner.<\/p>\n<p>Getting our country back on track is hard, difficult work and we will reject the politics of easy answers and gimmicks that, frankly, got us here in the first place.<\/p>\n<p>At the next general election we will be judged on whether we\u2019ve delivered on things that really matter, do people feel better off, are public services improving \u2013 for which they will look to the NHS \u2013 and do people feel more safe and secure in their own community?<\/p>\n<p>They are the issues we will be judged on at the next general election, that is our focus.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<footer class=\"dcr-3i7iba\"><gu-island name=\"ShareButton\" priority=\"feature\" deferuntil=\"visible\" props=\"{&quot;size&quot;:&quot;xsmall&quot;,&quot;pageId&quot;:&quot;politics\/live\/2026\/jan\/06\/badenoch-trump-venezuela-maduro-starmer-streeting-uk-politics-latest-news-updates&quot;,&quot;hash&quot;:&quot;block-695cdde28f084bc8114dfefd&quot;,&quot;queryParams&quot;:{&quot;page&quot;:&quot;with:block-695cdde28f084bc8114dfefd&quot;},&quot;webTitle&quot;:&quot;Kemi Badenoch says Trump\u2019s Venezuela raid was \u2018morally\u2019 right \u2013 UK politics live&quot;,&quot;format&quot;:{&quot;design&quot;:11,&quot;display&quot;:0,&quot;theme&quot;:0},&quot;context&quot;:&quot;LiveBlock&quot;}\"><a href=\"mailto:?subject=Kemi Badenoch says Trump\u2019s Venezuela raid was \u2018morally\u2019 right \u2013 UK politics live&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/politics\/live\/2026\/jan\/06\/badenoch-trump-venezuela-maduro-starmer-streeting-uk-politics-latest-news-updates?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-695cdde28f084bc8114dfefd#block-695cdde28f084bc8114dfefd\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-1mulgdf\">Share<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewbox=\"-3 -3 30 30\" focusable=\"false\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path fill-rule=\"evenodd\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\" d=\"M19 16c1.675 0 3 1.35 3 3 0 1.675-1.325 3-3 3a2.97 2.97 0 0 1-2.975-3c0-.125 0-.275.025-.375L7.1 14.15a2.9 2.9 0 0 1-2.075.825C3.325 14.975 2 13.65 2 12a3.004 3.004 0 0 1 3.025-3.025c.775 0 1.5.35 2.075.875l8.95-4.475c-.025-.1-.025-.225-.025-.4A2.966 2.966 0 0 1 19 2c1.675 0 3 1.325 3 2.975C22 6.65 20.675 8 19 8c-.8 0-1.475-.325-2.05-.825l-8.975 4.45C8 11.7 8 11.825 8 12s0 .3-.025.375l8.975 4.45c.575-.5 1.25-.825 2.05-.825m0-12.8c-.975 0-1.8.775-1.8 1.775S18.025 6.8 19 6.8c1 0 1.825-.825 1.825-1.825S20 3.2 19 3.2m0 17.6c1 0 1.825-.825 1.825-1.8 0-1-.825-1.8-1.825-1.8-.975 0-1.8.8-1.8 1.8 0 .975.825 1.8 1.8 1.8\"\/><\/svg><\/a><\/gu-island><\/footer>\n<\/article>\n<aside data-ad-slot=\"true\" class=\"ad-slot-container dcr-jko40v\"\/>\n<article id=\"block-695cd8ee8f08c5d6720dcf1a\" class=\"block dcr-1os4bxs\">\n<header class=\"dcr-88va8u\">\n<h2 class=\"dcr-1wl2b6o\">Badenoch claims Brexit not succeeding because UK &#8216;not doing anything with it&#8217;<\/h2>\n<\/header>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">In her Today programme interview, <strong>Kemi Badenoch<\/strong> also claimed that Brexit was not working because the UK is not \u201cdoing anything with it\u201d.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Badenoch was an enthusiastic supporter of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/politics\/eu-referendum\" data-link-name=\"in body link\" data-component=\"auto-linked-tag\">Brexit<\/a>, even though she was not an MP at the time of the 2016 referendum, and as a minister she was seen as a keen Brexiter.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Asked by <strong>Nick Robinson<\/strong>, the presenter, how she thought Brexit was going, on a scale of one to 10, <strong>Badenoch<\/strong> replied:<\/p>\n<blockquote data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" class=\"dcr-154zxly\">\n<p><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 14\" style=\"fill:var(--block-quote-fill)\" class=\"dcr-scql1j\"><path d=\"M5.255 0h4.75c-.572 4.53-1.077 8.972-1.297 13.941H0C.792 9.104 2.44 4.53 5.255 0Zm11.061 0H21c-.506 4.53-1.077 8.972-1.297 13.941h-8.686c.902-4.837 2.485-9.411 5.3-13.941Z\"\/><\/svg>We\u2019re not doing anything with it, that\u2019s the problem.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Asked again how it was going, she said:<\/p>\n<blockquote data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" class=\"dcr-154zxly\">\n<p><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 14\" style=\"fill:var(--block-quote-fill)\" class=\"dcr-scql1j\"><path d=\"M5.255 0h4.75c-.572 4.53-1.077 8.972-1.297 13.941H0C.792 9.104 2.44 4.53 5.255 0Zm11.061 0H21c-.506 4.53-1.077 8.972-1.297 13.941h-8.686c.902-4.837 2.485-9.411 5.3-13.941Z\"\/><\/svg>We successfully left the European Union, so 10 out of 10 for leaving. But using the opportunity \u2013 we\u2019re not using the opportunity \u2026<\/p>\n<p>What I\u2019m saying is that nothing\u2019s happening. Nothing\u2019s happening.<\/p>\n<p>We need to compete aggressively with other countries. We need to be close with Europe, not run by Europe. That is Conservative policy. Let\u2019s stay close to our regional and international allies. But sovereignty matters.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Britain formally left the EU in 2020 when Boris Johnson \u2013 like Badenoch, a hardline Brexiter \u2013 was prime minister. Some rightwingers argue that the UK would thrive outside the EU if it deregulated more aggressively, and diverged more from the EU. But in the four years they were in office after Brexit, the Tories did not implement the sort of policies Badenoch seems to be proposing because they judged they would not benefit the economy.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Recent research says Brexit has cut the UK\u2019s GDP <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/politics\/live\/2025\/nov\/25\/nigel-farage-nathan-gill-labour-reform-uk-russia-keir-starmer-uk-politics-live-news?page=with%3Ablock-69258ba88f08dbc3291d0a1b#block-69258ba88f08dbc3291d0a1b\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">by between 6% and 8%.<\/a><\/p>\n<footer class=\"dcr-3i7iba\"><gu-island name=\"ShareButton\" priority=\"feature\" deferuntil=\"visible\" props=\"{&quot;size&quot;:&quot;xsmall&quot;,&quot;pageId&quot;:&quot;politics\/live\/2026\/jan\/06\/badenoch-trump-venezuela-maduro-starmer-streeting-uk-politics-latest-news-updates&quot;,&quot;hash&quot;:&quot;block-695cd8ee8f08c5d6720dcf1a&quot;,&quot;queryParams&quot;:{&quot;page&quot;:&quot;with:block-695cd8ee8f08c5d6720dcf1a&quot;},&quot;webTitle&quot;:&quot;Kemi Badenoch says Trump\u2019s Venezuela raid was \u2018morally\u2019 right \u2013 UK politics live&quot;,&quot;format&quot;:{&quot;design&quot;:11,&quot;display&quot;:0,&quot;theme&quot;:0},&quot;context&quot;:&quot;LiveBlock&quot;}\"><a href=\"mailto:?subject=Kemi Badenoch says Trump\u2019s Venezuela raid was \u2018morally\u2019 right \u2013 UK politics live&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/politics\/live\/2026\/jan\/06\/badenoch-trump-venezuela-maduro-starmer-streeting-uk-politics-latest-news-updates?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-695cd8ee8f08c5d6720dcf1a#block-695cd8ee8f08c5d6720dcf1a\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-1mulgdf\">Share<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewbox=\"-3 -3 30 30\" focusable=\"false\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path fill-rule=\"evenodd\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\" d=\"M19 16c1.675 0 3 1.35 3 3 0 1.675-1.325 3-3 3a2.97 2.97 0 0 1-2.975-3c0-.125 0-.275.025-.375L7.1 14.15a2.9 2.9 0 0 1-2.075.825C3.325 14.975 2 13.65 2 12a3.004 3.004 0 0 1 3.025-3.025c.775 0 1.5.35 2.075.875l8.95-4.475c-.025-.1-.025-.225-.025-.4A2.966 2.966 0 0 1 19 2c1.675 0 3 1.325 3 2.975C22 6.65 20.675 8 19 8c-.8 0-1.475-.325-2.05-.825l-8.975 4.45C8 11.7 8 11.825 8 12s0 .3-.025.375l8.975 4.45c.575-.5 1.25-.825 2.05-.825m0-12.8c-.975 0-1.8.775-1.8 1.775S18.025 6.8 19 6.8c1 0 1.825-.825 1.825-1.825S20 3.2 19 3.2m0 17.6c1 0 1.825-.825 1.825-1.8 0-1-.825-1.8-1.825-1.8-.975 0-1.8.8-1.8 1.8 0 .975.825 1.8 1.8 1.8\"\/><\/svg><\/a><\/gu-island><\/p>\n<p>Updated at\u00a0<time datetime=\"2026-01-06T10:00:50.000Z\" data-locale=\"en-gb\" title=\"Tuesday, 6 January 2026 at 10:00 Greenwich Mean Time\">10.00 GMT<\/time><\/p>\n<\/footer>\n<\/article>\n<aside data-ad-slot=\"true\" class=\"ad-slot-container ad-slot-desktop dcr-jko40v\"\/>\n<article id=\"block-695cc1ba8f08aeb1214745d1\" class=\"block dcr-1os4bxs\">\n<header class=\"dcr-88va8u\">\n<h2 class=\"dcr-1wl2b6o\">Government publishes plan to protect public services from cyber threats<\/h2>\n<\/header>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">A new plan to protect public services from cyber threats has been published today, PA Media reports. PA says:<\/p>\n<blockquote data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" class=\"dcr-154zxly\">\n<p><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 14\" style=\"fill:var(--block-quote-fill)\" class=\"dcr-scql1j\"><path d=\"M5.255 0h4.75c-.572 4.53-1.077 8.972-1.297 13.941H0C.792 9.104 2.44 4.53 5.255 0Zm11.061 0H21c-.506 4.53-1.077 8.972-1.297 13.941h-8.686c.902-4.837 2.485-9.411 5.3-13.941Z\"\/><\/svg>The government has set out <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/news\/new-cyber-action-plan-to-tackle-threats-and-strengthen-public-services\">measures to make online services more secure <\/a>and give the public confidence that their data is protected when applying for benefits, paying taxes or accessing healthcare.<\/p>\n<p>The cyber action plan, backed by \u00a3210m, aims to highlight where risks lie across government and take joined-up action across departments as well as speeding up reactions to attacks.<\/p>\n<p>It comes amid efforts to digitise services, which the government hopes will reduce phone queues and paperwork and says could unlock up to \u00a345bn in savings.<\/p>\n<p>Digital government minister <strong class=\"dcr-in3yi3\">Ian Murray<\/strong> said: \u201cCyber attacks can take vital public services offline in minutes \u2013 disrupting our digital services and our very way of life. This plan sets a new bar to bolster the defences of our public sector, putting cyber-criminals on warning that we are going further and faster to protect the UK\u2019s businesses and public services alike.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<footer class=\"dcr-3i7iba\"><gu-island name=\"ShareButton\" priority=\"feature\" deferuntil=\"visible\" props=\"{&quot;size&quot;:&quot;xsmall&quot;,&quot;pageId&quot;:&quot;politics\/live\/2026\/jan\/06\/badenoch-trump-venezuela-maduro-starmer-streeting-uk-politics-latest-news-updates&quot;,&quot;hash&quot;:&quot;block-695cc1ba8f08aeb1214745d1&quot;,&quot;queryParams&quot;:{&quot;page&quot;:&quot;with:block-695cc1ba8f08aeb1214745d1&quot;},&quot;webTitle&quot;:&quot;Kemi Badenoch says Trump\u2019s Venezuela raid was \u2018morally\u2019 right \u2013 UK politics live&quot;,&quot;format&quot;:{&quot;design&quot;:11,&quot;display&quot;:0,&quot;theme&quot;:0},&quot;context&quot;:&quot;LiveBlock&quot;}\"><a href=\"mailto:?subject=Kemi Badenoch says Trump\u2019s Venezuela raid was \u2018morally\u2019 right \u2013 UK politics live&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/politics\/live\/2026\/jan\/06\/badenoch-trump-venezuela-maduro-starmer-streeting-uk-politics-latest-news-updates?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-695cc1ba8f08aeb1214745d1#block-695cc1ba8f08aeb1214745d1\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-1mulgdf\">Share<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewbox=\"-3 -3 30 30\" focusable=\"false\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path fill-rule=\"evenodd\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\" d=\"M19 16c1.675 0 3 1.35 3 3 0 1.675-1.325 3-3 3a2.97 2.97 0 0 1-2.975-3c0-.125 0-.275.025-.375L7.1 14.15a2.9 2.9 0 0 1-2.075.825C3.325 14.975 2 13.65 2 12a3.004 3.004 0 0 1 3.025-3.025c.775 0 1.5.35 2.075.875l8.95-4.475c-.025-.1-.025-.225-.025-.4A2.966 2.966 0 0 1 19 2c1.675 0 3 1.325 3 2.975C22 6.65 20.675 8 19 8c-.8 0-1.475-.325-2.05-.825l-8.975 4.45C8 11.7 8 11.825 8 12s0 .3-.025.375l8.975 4.45c.575-.5 1.25-.825 2.05-.825m0-12.8c-.975 0-1.8.775-1.8 1.775S18.025 6.8 19 6.8c1 0 1.825-.825 1.825-1.825S20 3.2 19 3.2m0 17.6c1 0 1.825-.825 1.825-1.8 0-1-.825-1.8-1.825-1.8-.975 0-1.8.8-1.8 1.8 0 .975.825 1.8 1.8 1.8\"\/><\/svg><\/a><\/gu-island><\/footer>\n<\/article>\n<aside data-ad-slot=\"true\" class=\"ad-slot-container dcr-jko40v\"\/>\n<article id=\"block-695cd6dd8f08c5d6720dcf0b\" class=\"block dcr-1os4bxs\">\n<header class=\"dcr-88va8u\">\n<h2 class=\"dcr-1wl2b6o\">Labour to protect existing MPs above winning more seats at next election, deputy leader Lucy Powell says<\/h2>\n<\/header>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Labour will switch to an \u201cincumbency first\u201d model to protect MPs at the next election rather than targeting seats, the deputy leader, <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/politics\/lucy-powell\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">Lucy Powell<\/a>,<\/strong> has told Labour MPs. <strong>Jessica Elgot<\/strong> has the story.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"f5a78d80-08a4-4b49-8fe5-6b7651a83a93\" data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" data-spacefinder-type=\"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.RichLinkBlockElement\" class=\"dcr-173mewl\"><gu-island name=\"RichLinkComponent\" priority=\"feature\" deferuntil=\"idle\" props=\"{&quot;richLinkIndex&quot;:1,&quot;element&quot;:{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.RichLinkBlockElement&quot;,&quot;prefix&quot;:&quot;Related: &quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Labour to protect existing MPs above winning more seats at next election, deputy leader says&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;f5a78d80-08a4-4b49-8fe5-6b7651a83a93&quot;,&quot;role&quot;:&quot;inline&quot;,&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/politics\/2026\/jan\/06\/labour-election-strategy-protect-mp-over-winning-seats-deputy-pm&quot;},&quot;ajaxUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/api.nextgen.guardianapps.co.uk&quot;,&quot;format&quot;:{&quot;design&quot;:11,&quot;display&quot;:0,&quot;theme&quot;:0}}\"\/><\/figure>\n<footer class=\"dcr-3i7iba\"><gu-island name=\"ShareButton\" priority=\"feature\" deferuntil=\"visible\" props=\"{&quot;size&quot;:&quot;xsmall&quot;,&quot;pageId&quot;:&quot;politics\/live\/2026\/jan\/06\/badenoch-trump-venezuela-maduro-starmer-streeting-uk-politics-latest-news-updates&quot;,&quot;hash&quot;:&quot;block-695cd6dd8f08c5d6720dcf0b&quot;,&quot;queryParams&quot;:{&quot;page&quot;:&quot;with:block-695cd6dd8f08c5d6720dcf0b&quot;},&quot;webTitle&quot;:&quot;Kemi Badenoch says Trump\u2019s Venezuela raid was \u2018morally\u2019 right \u2013 UK politics live&quot;,&quot;format&quot;:{&quot;design&quot;:11,&quot;display&quot;:0,&quot;theme&quot;:0},&quot;context&quot;:&quot;LiveBlock&quot;}\"><a href=\"mailto:?subject=Kemi Badenoch says Trump\u2019s Venezuela raid was \u2018morally\u2019 right \u2013 UK politics live&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/politics\/live\/2026\/jan\/06\/badenoch-trump-venezuela-maduro-starmer-streeting-uk-politics-latest-news-updates?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-695cd6dd8f08c5d6720dcf0b#block-695cd6dd8f08c5d6720dcf0b\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-1mulgdf\">Share<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewbox=\"-3 -3 30 30\" focusable=\"false\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path fill-rule=\"evenodd\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\" d=\"M19 16c1.675 0 3 1.35 3 3 0 1.675-1.325 3-3 3a2.97 2.97 0 0 1-2.975-3c0-.125 0-.275.025-.375L7.1 14.15a2.9 2.9 0 0 1-2.075.825C3.325 14.975 2 13.65 2 12a3.004 3.004 0 0 1 3.025-3.025c.775 0 1.5.35 2.075.875l8.95-4.475c-.025-.1-.025-.225-.025-.4A2.966 2.966 0 0 1 19 2c1.675 0 3 1.325 3 2.975C22 6.65 20.675 8 19 8c-.8 0-1.475-.325-2.05-.825l-8.975 4.45C8 11.7 8 11.825 8 12s0 .3-.025.375l8.975 4.45c.575-.5 1.25-.825 2.05-.825m0-12.8c-.975 0-1.8.775-1.8 1.775S18.025 6.8 19 6.8c1 0 1.825-.825 1.825-1.825S20 3.2 19 3.2m0 17.6c1 0 1.825-.825 1.825-1.8 0-1-.825-1.8-1.825-1.8-.975 0-1.8.8-1.8 1.8 0 .975.825 1.8 1.8 1.8\"\/><\/svg><\/a><\/gu-island><\/footer>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"block-695cb8418f085ac3c3a8da1b\" class=\"block dcr-1os4bxs\">\n<header class=\"dcr-88va8u\">\n<h2 class=\"dcr-1wl2b6o\">Kemi Badenoch says Trump\u2019s Venezuela raid was \u2018morally\u2019 right, as she suggests faith in rules-based global order overrated<\/h2>\n<\/header>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Good morning. Over the last three days it has been hard to find anyone in British politics willing to defend the US raid on Venezuela leading to the capture of its president, Nicol\u00e1s Maduro. In the Commons last night, Yvette Cooper, the foreign secretary, engaged in a delicate balancing act \u2013 stressing the UK\u2019s support for international law, while doing her best not to criticise the fairly blatant US breach of it \u2013 as MPs from all the main parties lined up to demand a more robust pushback against <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/donaldtrump\" data-link-name=\"in body link\" data-component=\"auto-linked-tag\">Donald Trump<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">But this morning <strong>Kemi Badenoch<\/strong> has defended the US president. At the weekend, <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/KemiBadenoch\/status\/2007469918178959818\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">her initial response<\/a> was much like Keir Starmer\u2019s \u2013 noncommittal, and claiming that she could not give a proper view until more information was available. Even yesterday she was still <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/politics\/live\/2026\/jan\/05\/uk-venezuela-response-starmer-trump-labour-conservatives-latest-news-updates?page=with%3Ablock-695b934f8f085ed25e9e3e62#block-695b934f8f085ed25e9e3e62\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">broadly still sitting on the fence<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">However, this morning, in a long interview with the Today programme (which is promising in-depth, start-of-year interviews with all the main party leaders), she declared that what Trump did was \u201cmorally \u2026 the right thing to do\u201d. She also implied that faith in the rules-based international order, sustained by international law, was overrated because the world did not operate like that any more.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">When it was put to her that Margaret Thatcher condemned the US invasion of Grenada in 1983, Badenoch said that Thatcher was right at the time, but that Trump\u2019s action was different. She went on:<\/p>\n<blockquote data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" class=\"dcr-154zxly\">\n<p><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 14\" style=\"fill:var(--block-quote-fill)\" class=\"dcr-scql1j\"><path d=\"M5.255 0h4.75c-.572 4.53-1.077 8.972-1.297 13.941H0C.792 9.104 2.44 4.53 5.255 0Zm11.061 0H21c-.506 4.53-1.077 8.972-1.297 13.941h-8.686c.902-4.837 2.485-9.411 5.3-13.941Z\"\/><\/svg>Venezuela was a brutal regime. We didn\u2019t even recognise it as a legitimate government. I think that what\u2019s happened is quite extraordinary. But I understand why America has done it.<\/p>\n<p>And the reason why I say this is because, where the legal certainty is not yet clear, morally I do think it was the right thing to do.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Badenoch said she was saying this because she was different from other party leaders and MPs.<\/p>\n<blockquote data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" class=\"dcr-154zxly\">\n<p><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 14\" style=\"fill:var(--block-quote-fill)\" class=\"dcr-scql1j\"><path d=\"M5.255 0h4.75c-.572 4.53-1.077 8.972-1.297 13.941H0C.792 9.104 2.44 4.53 5.255 0Zm11.061 0H21c-.506 4.53-1.077 8.972-1.297 13.941h-8.686c.902-4.837 2.485-9.411 5.3-13.941Z\"\/><\/svg>I grew up under a military dictatorship [in Nigeria], so I know what it\u2019s like to have someone like Maduro in charge. I know what it\u2019s like to have people celebrating in the street. So I\u2019m not condemning the US.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Asked again if sending special forces in to seize Maduro was the right thing to do, Badenoch replied: \u201cMorally, yes.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Badenoch did say that the invastion raised \u201cserious questions about the rules-based order\u201d. But, in another shift from the position adopted by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/politics\/keir-starmer\" data-link-name=\"in body link\" data-component=\"auto-linked-tag\">Keir Starmer<\/a>, she went on to question how robust the rules-based international actually is any more. She explained:<\/p>\n<blockquote data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" class=\"dcr-154zxly\">\n<p><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 14\" style=\"fill:var(--block-quote-fill)\" class=\"dcr-scql1j\"><path d=\"M5.255 0h4.75c-.572 4.53-1.077 8.972-1.297 13.941H0C.792 9.104 2.44 4.53 5.255 0Zm11.061 0H21c-.506 4.53-1.077 8.972-1.297 13.941h-8.686c.902-4.837 2.485-9.411 5.3-13.941Z\"\/><\/svg>As we all know, international law is what countries agree to. Once people decide they don\u2019t agree, there is no international law. There\u2019s no world police, no world government, no world court. These are agreements.<\/p>\n<p>And when we look at what the opposition leader, Mar\u00eda Machado, said, she said Venezuela had already been invaded. It had been invaded by Russia, by Iran, by Hezbollah. Where were the people talking about international law then?<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Badenoch was then asked if she agreed with <strong>Stephen Miller<\/strong>, Trump\u2019s deputy chief of staff, <a href=\"https:\/\/thehill.com\/homenews\/administration\/5673959-miller-backs-trump-venezuela\/\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">who said yesterday<\/a> that \u201cwe live in a world \u2026 that is governed by strength, that is governed by force, that is governed by power.\u201d <strong>Badenoch<\/strong> implied that she did. She replied:<\/p>\n<blockquote data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" class=\"dcr-154zxly\">\n<p><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 14\" style=\"fill:var(--block-quote-fill)\" class=\"dcr-scql1j\"><path d=\"M5.255 0h4.75c-.572 4.53-1.077 8.972-1.297 13.941H0C.792 9.104 2.44 4.53 5.255 0Zm11.061 0H21c-.506 4.53-1.077 8.972-1.297 13.941h-8.686c.902-4.837 2.485-9.411 5.3-13.941Z\"\/><\/svg>The US has actually been saying this for a very long time. I remember as trade secretary, the US has basically walked away from the World Trade Organization saying that everybody else was breaking the rules, China in particular, and if people weren\u2019t following the rules, there was no rules-based order.<\/p>\n<p>And we go through the motions, we act as if it is still 1995, we were living off the peace dividend of the cold war and World War Two.<\/p>\n<p>The world has changed. What I want to see is a strong Britain. We can\u2019t control everything that the US does. Venezuela is very far away from here. It\u2019s not Grenada, for example. But what they do respect is strength. And we are getting weaker.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">This is quite a bold position to take, not least because it is at odds with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/politics\/live\/2026\/jan\/05\/uk-venezuela-response-starmer-trump-labour-conservatives-latest-news-updates?page=with%3Ablock-695bf3408f085ac3c3a8d4cf#block-695bf3408f085ac3c3a8d4cf\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">what most Britons think.<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">I will post more from the interview shortly.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Here is the agenda for the day.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><em>9am:<\/em> Keir Starmer chairs cabinet. Most of the meeting will be devoted to a political cabinet, where civil servants leave the room and ministers focus on party political matters \u2013 such as the Scottish parliament, Welsh Senedd and English local elections in May.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><em>10am:<\/em> Dave Hinton, chief executive of South East Water, gives evidence to the Commons environment committee about the Tunbridge Wells water shortage last month.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><em>10.30am:<\/em> Stephen Doughty, a Foreign Office minister, gives evidence to the Commons foreign affairs committee as part of its inquiry into \u201cDisinformation diplomacy: How malign actors are seeking to undermine democracy\u201d.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><em>Morning:<\/em> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/politics\/kemi-badenoch\" data-link-name=\"in body link\" data-component=\"auto-linked-tag\">Kemi Badenoch<\/a> is on a visit in London.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><em>11.30am:<\/em> Ed Miliband, the energy secretary, takes questions in the Commons.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><em>Noon:<\/em> Downing Street holds a lobby briefing.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><em>Afternoon:<\/em> Keir Starmer joins other European leaders in Paris for a meeting of the \u201ccoalition of the willing\u201d group willing to provide security guarantees to Ukraine in the event of a ceasefire. Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the Ukrainian president, and Donald Trump\u2019s advisers Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are attending. A press conference is due at around 5.45pm.<strong>Frances Mao<\/strong> will be leading our coverage of this on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/live\/2026\/jan\/06\/coalition-willing-paris-ukraine-zelenskyy-greenland-denmark-venezuela-trump-latest-news-updates\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">the Europe live blog<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><em>2pm:<\/em> The Commons business committee takes evidence from former post office operators, laywers, the Post Office, ministers, and others about progress in Post Office Horizon scandal compensation payments.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><em>2.30pm:<\/em> Craig Guildford, chief constable of West Midlands police and Mike O\u2019Hara, an assistant chief constable at WMP, give evidence to the Commons home affairs committee about claims they misrepresented the intelligence they used to justify their call for a ban on Maccabi Tel Aviv fans attending the Villa Park match last year.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">If you want to contact me, please post a message below the line when comments are open (normally between 10am and 3pm at the moment), or message me on social media. I can\u2019t read all the messages BTL, but if you put \u201cAndrew\u201d in a message aimed at me, I am more likely to see it because I search for posts containing that word.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">If you want to flag something up urgently, it is best to use social media. You can reach me on Bluesky at @andrewsparrowgdn.bsky.social. The Guardian has <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/media\/2024\/nov\/13\/the-guardian-no-longer-post-on-x-twitter-elon-musk\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">given up posting from its official accounts on X<\/a>, but individual Guardian journalists are there, I still have my account, and if you message me there at @AndrewSparrow, I will see it and respond if necessary.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">I find it very helpful when readers point out mistakes, even minor typos. No error is too small to correct. And I find your questions very interesting too. I can\u2019t promise to reply to them all, but I will try to reply to as many as I can, either BTL or sometimes in the blog.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><em>UPDATE:<\/em> I have corrected the agenda because Dave Hinton is chief executive of South East Water, not South West Water as it originally said.<\/p>\n<footer class=\"dcr-3i7iba\"><gu-island name=\"ShareButton\" priority=\"feature\" deferuntil=\"visible\" props=\"{&quot;size&quot;:&quot;xsmall&quot;,&quot;pageId&quot;:&quot;politics\/live\/2026\/jan\/06\/badenoch-trump-venezuela-maduro-starmer-streeting-uk-politics-latest-news-updates&quot;,&quot;hash&quot;:&quot;block-695cb8418f085ac3c3a8da1b&quot;,&quot;queryParams&quot;:{&quot;page&quot;:&quot;with:block-695cb8418f085ac3c3a8da1b&quot;},&quot;webTitle&quot;:&quot;Kemi Badenoch says Trump\u2019s Venezuela raid was \u2018morally\u2019 right \u2013 UK politics live&quot;,&quot;format&quot;:{&quot;design&quot;:11,&quot;display&quot;:0,&quot;theme&quot;:0},&quot;context&quot;:&quot;LiveBlock&quot;}\"><a href=\"mailto:?subject=Kemi Badenoch says Trump\u2019s Venezuela raid was \u2018morally\u2019 right \u2013 UK politics live&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/politics\/live\/2026\/jan\/06\/badenoch-trump-venezuela-maduro-starmer-streeting-uk-politics-latest-news-updates?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-695cb8418f085ac3c3a8da1b#block-695cb8418f085ac3c3a8da1b\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-1mulgdf\">Share<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewbox=\"-3 -3 30 30\" focusable=\"false\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path fill-rule=\"evenodd\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\" d=\"M19 16c1.675 0 3 1.35 3 3 0 1.675-1.325 3-3 3a2.97 2.97 0 0 1-2.975-3c0-.125 0-.275.025-.375L7.1 14.15a2.9 2.9 0 0 1-2.075.825C3.325 14.975 2 13.65 2 12a3.004 3.004 0 0 1 3.025-3.025c.775 0 1.5.35 2.075.875l8.95-4.475c-.025-.1-.025-.225-.025-.4A2.966 2.966 0 0 1 19 2c1.675 0 3 1.325 3 2.975C22 6.65 20.675 8 19 8c-.8 0-1.475-.325-2.05-.825l-8.975 4.45C8 11.7 8 11.825 8 12s0 .3-.025.375l8.975 4.45c.575-.5 1.25-.825 2.05-.825m0-12.8c-.975 0-1.8.775-1.8 1.775S18.025 6.8 19 6.8c1 0 1.825-.825 1.825-1.825S20 3.2 19 3.2m0 17.6c1 0 1.825-.825 1.825-1.8 0-1-.825-1.8-1.825-1.8-.975 0-1.8.8-1.8 1.8 0 .975.825 1.8 1.8 1.8\"\/><\/svg><\/a><\/gu-island><\/p>\n<p>Updated at\u00a0<time datetime=\"2026-01-06T12:18:04.000Z\" data-locale=\"en-gb\" title=\"Tuesday, 6 January 2026 at 12:18 Greenwich Mean Time\">12.18 GMT<\/time><\/p>\n<\/footer>\n<\/article>\n<p><gu-island name=\"LiveBlogEpic\" priority=\"feature\" deferuntil=\"idle\" props=\"{&quot;sectionId&quot;:&quot;politics&quot;,&quot;shouldHideReaderRevenue&quot;:false,&quot;tags&quot;:[{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;politics\/series\/politics-live-with-andrew-sparrow&quot;,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;Series&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;Politics live with Andrew Sparrow&quot;},{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;politics\/politics&quot;,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;Keyword&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;Politics&quot;},{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;uk\/uk&quot;,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;Keyword&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;UK news&quot;},{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;politics\/labour&quot;,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;Keyword&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;Labour&quot;},{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;politics\/conservatives&quot;,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;Keyword&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;Conservatives&quot;},{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;politics\/keir-starmer&quot;,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;Keyword&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;Keir Starmer&quot;},{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;politics\/kemi-badenoch&quot;,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;Keyword&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;Kemi Badenoch&quot;},{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;world\/venezuela&quot;,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;Keyword&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;Venezuela&quot;},{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;us-news\/donaldtrump&quot;,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;Keyword&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;Donald Trump&quot;},{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;politics\/foreignpolicy&quot;,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;Keyword&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;Foreign policy&quot;},{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;politics\/eu-referendum&quot;,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;Keyword&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;Brexit&quot;},{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;politics\/wes-streeting&quot;,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;Keyword&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;Wes Streeting&quot;},{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;type\/article&quot;,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;Type&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;Article&quot;},{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;tone\/minutebyminute&quot;,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;Tone&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;Minute by minute&quot;},{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;tone\/news&quot;,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;Tone&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;News&quot;},{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;profile\/andrewsparrow&quot;,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;Contributor&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;Andrew Sparrow&quot;,&quot;twitterHandle&quot;:&quot;AndrewSparrow&quot;,&quot;bylineImageUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/uploads\/2017\/10\/06\/Andrew-Sparrow.jpg?width=300&amp;quality=85&amp;auto=format&amp;fit=max&amp;s=b63c46db36dd834cfdb2e7124ef11d96&quot;,&quot;bylineLargeImageUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/uploads\/2017\/10\/06\/Andrew_Sparrow,_R.png?width=300&amp;quality=85&amp;auto=format&amp;fit=max&amp;s=5954dfa9a3b566f5929d1f7fab099903&quot;},{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;tracking\/commissioningdesk\/uk-home-news&quot;,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;Tracking&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;UK Home News&quot;}],&quot;isPaidContent&quot;:false,&quot;contributionsServiceUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/contributions.guardianapis.com&quot;,&quot;pageId&quot;:&quot;politics\/live\/2026\/jan\/06\/badenoch-trump-venezuela-maduro-starmer-streeting-uk-politics-latest-news-updates&quot;,&quot;keywordIds&quot;:&quot;politics\/politics,uk\/uk,politics\/labour,politics\/conservatives,politics\/keir-starmer,politics\/kemi-badenoch,world\/venezuela,us-news\/donaldtrump,politics\/foreignpolicy,politics\/eu-referendum,politics\/wes-streeting&quot;,&quot;renderingTarget&quot;:&quot;Web&quot;}\"\/><\/div>\n<p>#Kemi #Badenoch #Trumps #Venezuela #raid #morally #politics #live #Politics<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Key events Show key events onl&hellip; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":9835,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/microvibenews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9834"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/microvibenews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/microvibenews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/microvibenews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/microvibenews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=9834"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/microvibenews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9834\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/microvibenews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/9835"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/microvibenews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=9834"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/microvibenews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=9834"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/microvibenews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=9834"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}