Morning Update

Good morning. Over the past couple of days, discussions surrounding immigration have really taken the spotlight in Westminster, particularly with Kiel Starmer’s approach regarding the Paulite language. We might hear more on this during PMQs today. However, there’s a lot more on the foreign policy agenda, including upcoming negotiations concerning Ukraine in Turkey, the ongoing crisis in Gaza, and the next week’s EU summit, which is especially relevant for Kemi Badenoch. And of course, we can’t overlook Donald Trump, who remains a dominant figure in the news.

This morning, we learned about a notable rift that President Biden has caused between the UK and Canada. In an interview with Sky News, Mark Carney, the Canadian Prime Minister, expressed his dissatisfaction with Starmer’s decision to extend a second state visit invitation to Trump while Canadians were at the White House back in February. At that time, Trump was still making threats regarding Canadian territory. When asked about the Canadian reaction to the invitation, Carney commented:

“Frankly, they weren’t impressed by the gesture. Given the circumstances, we were pretty clear on issues of sovereignty back then.”

When further prompted about the appropriateness of Trump’s state visit, Carney noted:

“Well, that’s a matter for the British government and the palace.”

He was then asked if he had a personal view, to which he replied:

“I have opinions on a lot of things.”

This interview didn’t surprise me much; it’s fairly known that Canadians have been unhappy with the state visit. What stood out, however, was Carney’s eagerness to discuss the issue.

Cabinet Secretary Pat McFadden also weighed in this morning, claiming Carney’s comments were “completely relaxed.” When asked on Sky News about those remarks, he said:

“We have freedom of speech. Prime Minister Carney is entitled to his views. As Canada navigates its ties with the US, so do we.”

He explained that he felt relaxed about Carney’s comments, emphasizing that he was pleased President Trump was coming to visit, particularly in light of the thousands of automobile jobs saved in the UK through trade deals.

The government doesn’t plan to rescind the invitation for Trump’s visit. Yet, it’s clear that many tough decisions related to this topic remain unresolved. There’s talk that Trump may visit Windsor Castle in September to meet with King Charles, though that hasn’t been confirmed yet. Additionally, there’s considerable opposition regarding the idea of him being invited to work with Congress.

Here’s what’s happening today:

• 9:30 am: Anas Sarwar, the Scottish Labour leader, will speak with the media during his visit to a charity in South Lanarkshire.
• 11 am: BBC Director Tim Davie will deliver a speech calling for a “bold collective choice” to tackle the current trust crisis.
• Noon: Keir Starmer faces Kemi Badenoch in PMQs.
• Lunch: Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham and Liverpool Metro Mayor Steve Rotherham will address the media regarding the Liverpool-Manchester Railway Line.
• After 12:30 pm: Parliamentarians will vote on the Lords’ amendment to the UK Energy Bill, followed by a vote on the Data (Use and Access) Bill.

If you’d like to reach out, feel free to leave a comment when they’re open (usually between 10 am and 3 pm) or message me on social media. I do try to read as many messages as possible, and adding “Andrew” will help me notice it more easily. For urgent matters, contacting me via social media is quickest; I’m on Bluesky at @andrewsparrowgdn.bsky.social. Although The Guardian has stepped away from its official X account, many individual journalists, including myself, are still active there. I’ll do my best to respond as needed.

Your feedback is valuable. Even small mistakes can be insightful, and I’m open to questions, though I can’t promise to answer all of them—but I do try.