From silence to statehood: how Trump’s indifference moved the UK on Palestine

It was, in the end, an off-the-cuff remark from Donald Trump that moved the dial.“I’m not going to take a position,” the US president said when asked in Scotland about pressure on Keir Starmer to recognise a Palestinian state. “I don’t mind him taking a position. I’m looking for getting people [in Gaza] fed right now.”Within 36 hours, after an emergency meeting of his cabinet, the prime minister had set out a plan to revive fading hopes of a two-state solution – and recognise Palestine by the end of September

Family of Briton murdered in Jamaica seek answers over UK officials’ ‘indifference’

The family of a “generous and loving” British man who was murdered in Jamaica are demanding answers over the British government’s “indifferent” response after the tragedy.Delroy Walker, from Birmingham, was stabbed to death weeks after retiring to the Caribbean island where he was building his dream home. The 63-year-old charity worker was murdered by a “jealous” tradesman he employed to help decorate the property in preparation for a family visit in summer 2018.Dwayne Barton, 32, was jailed for 27 years and his accomplice, Davian Edwards, 33, for 22 years this week after being found guilty of murder in a trial at St Mary circuit court in Jamaica.Walker, who was born on the island, was 11 years old when he moved to Britain with his parents who were part of the Windrush generation

Labour urged to revive Sure Start label to win back Reform voters

The government should greatly expand family centres under the Sure Start brand to help win back Reform voters in former Labour heartlands, a commission backed by Labour politicians has said.Hilary Armstrong, the Labour peer and former cabinet minister, was among those pressing for a fuller reintroduction of family centres under the Sure Start label, saying it would help to rebuild trust in neighbourhoods damaged by austerity.Armstrong is chair of the Independent Commission on Neighbourhoods, which said its polling showed 62% of people recognised the Sure Start brand, and that 76% would like to see it revived.Bridget Phillipson, the education secretary, announced last month that one-stop-shop family hubs similar to Sure Start would be introduced throughout England to give parents advice and support.The £500m project will open up to 1,000 centres from April 2026, meaning every council in England will have a family hub by 2028

Far-right extremists using games platforms to radicalise teenagers, report warns

Far-right extremists are using livestream gaming platforms to target and radicalise teenage players, a report has warned.The new research, published in the journal Frontiers in Psychology, reveals how a range of extremist groups and individuals use platforms that allow users to chat and livestream while playing video games to recruit and radicalise vulnerable users, mainly young males.UK crime and counter-terror agencies have urged parents to be especially alert to online offenders targeting youngsters during the summer holidays.In an unprecedented move, last week Counter Terrorism Policing, MI5 and the National Crime Agency issued a joint warning to parents and carers that online offenders “will exploit the school holidays to engage in criminal acts with young people when they know less support is readily available”.Dr William Allchorn, a senior research fellow at Anglia Ruskin University’s international policing and public protection research institute, who carried out the study with his colleague Dr Elisa Orofino, said “gaming-adjacent” platforms were being used as “digital playgrounds” for extremist activity

Corbyn’s new party and the menace of populism | Letters

The upcoming launch of a new party by Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana (Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana agree to launch leftwing party, 24 July) will inevitably prompt questions about whether this will divide the progressive vote or offer a genuine alternative to Labour’s centrist drift, especially as the Green party continues to grow as a principled voice for environmental and social justice. Although these projects are potential rivals, they need not be.If the disturbing rise of rightwing populism is to be successfully confronted, the left must overcome fragmentation and find ways to coexist and collaborate. The Corbyn-Sultana initiative and the Greens share much common ground: a rejection of austerity, commitment to democratic reform and a belief in economic and ecological justice. Their differences in emphasis, tone and priorities are real but not irreconcilable

Peers arguing Palestinian state recognition unlawful ‘missing the point’, says minister – as it happened

In an interview with Radio 4’s the World at One, Jonathan Reynolds, the business secretary, claimed that peers who argue that Palestinian state recognition would be unlawful are “missing the point”.After being invited to listen to a clip of Lady Deech explaining the peers’ objections to the plan (see 12.59pm), and asked to respond, Reynolds replied:I think, to be honest, with respect to those colleagues, that is missing the point somewhat.What we want to see is not just a ceasefire to the conflict in Gaza, but a genuine peace process, a long-term settlement, and that requires a two state solution.And we’re trying to use recognition of a Palestinian state … in a way which genuinely moves forward this peace process, deals with short-term issues like getting sufficient aid into Gaza, which is a huge deal, but also sets in place a serious long-term peace process