Labour veteran Baroness Harman has claimed Anneliese Dodds's shock resignation as Development Minister "doesn't make a difference" to Sir Keir Starmer's cabinet - just as the Prime Minister faces down a furious backlash from his own MPs.
Speaking on Sky News's Electoral Dysfunction podcast, the ex-deputy leader said she was "really disappointed" that Dodds "felt she's had to resign" as she heaped praise on Starmer's cabinet management.
"I think that the truth is that there is such coherence in the cabinet, and Keir Starmer's political management of the cabinet is so absolutely functional and strong, that although I don't want to take away from Anneliese on this, actually it won't make any difference to that."
But at the same time, Corybinsta Labour backbencher Diane Abbott branded other Ministers' failure to act "shameful".
"The International Development Minister resigns over massive cuts in aid to pay for war," she said.
"Shameful that other members of the cabinet have not done the same."
While fellow Labour rebel - though now an independent MP - Rosie Duffield also took a swipe at Starmer's cabinet.
"Very proud of my former Parliamentary roommate for sticking to her principles," she wrote on social media.
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Donald Trump 'recognises the strength' of 'rational' Chagos deal, No10 claims
Donald Trump "recognises the strength" of the Chagos Islands deal, Downing Street has said, after the US President appeared to back the handover yesterday.
Despite intense speculation that the President would move to veto the giveaway, Trump said he thought it would "work out very well", adding: "We'll be inclined to go along with your country. It doesn't sound bad!"
He added that it was a "very long-term, powerful lease, a very strong lease" - referring to a move to rent out a UK-US base on the island of Diego Garcia for 99 years, with the option for an additional 40.
However, Trump did offer a back-door for a thumbs down, adding: "It's a little bit early... We have to be given the details."
And today, the Prime Minister's official spokesman has said: "We welcome the fact that the President recognises the strength of this deal, which is rooted in a rational and hard-headed determination to protect UK security."
Our top story: Keir Starmer suffers shock resignation as Dodds accuses PM of 'following Trump's lead' with foreign aid cut
Sir Keir Starmer has been rocked with a shock resignation after Anneliese Dodds quit as International Development Minister
PA
Sir Keir Starmer has been rocked with a shock resignation after Anneliese Dodds quit as International Development Minister over the Prime Minister's decision to slash foreign aid.
Dodds, who served as Shadow Chancellor and was a close ally to the Prime Minister, quit her post just days after Starmer confirmed the cut will be used to plug a surge in defence spending.
In her letter to the Prime Minister, Dodds wrote: “Ultimately, these cuts will remove food and healthcare from desperate people – deeply harming the UK’s reputation.
"I know you have been clear that you are not ideologically opposed to international development.
"But the reality is that this decision is already being portrayed as following in President Trump’s slipstream of cuts to USAid."
Starmer's special relationship with Trump was also referred to when Dodds explained why she was only quitting her post now.
"As I stated to you earlier this week," she explained, "it was imperative that you had a united Cabinet behind you as you set off for Washington."
READ IN FULL: Keir Starmer responds to Anneliese Dodds's shock resignation
Pollster says Reform UK set to face 'first real test' after SURGE in support
Leading polling expert Sir John Curtice has warned that Reform UK now faces a "challenge" to transform itself into a "regular political party with activists across the country".
Nigel Farage's party continues to surge in the polls and secure electoral victories.
Reform UK secured a decisive victory in the Bedingfield ward in Breckland, Norfolk, winning 54.3 per cent of the vote in a recent council by-election.
The result comes in Liz Truss's former constituency of South West Norfolk, an area traditionally considered a Conservative heartland.
WATCH IN FULL: Angela Rayner reacts to Anneliese Dodds's shock resignation
Keir Starmer’s ‘sharp’ free speech response to JD Vance dissected by body language expert
Sir Keir Starmer and Vice President JD Vance have butted heads over freedom of speechREUTERSA body language expert has dissected Keir Starmer’s crunch meeting with President Trump, saying his “eggshell treading reached thermonuclear proportions” as the pair faced reporters.
The prime minister came away from the Oval Office with reasons to be optimistic after Trump signalled support for a UK-US trade deal and Britain’s plan to cede the Chagos Islands to Mauritius.
Speaking on GB News, political presentation coach Graham Davies said Starmer made a “good move” in the way he sat.
“He was sitting back on one of those golden thrones”, he said.
'Not up for grabs!' Streeting confirms NHS not part of US-UK trade deal negotiations
Health Secretary Wes Streeting has ruled out the NHS being part of negotiations for a trade deal with the United States.
Speaking to Sky News, Streeting said: “The NHS is not up for grabs and is not on the table in the context of trade.
“But there are a number of areas where we can and should work together to deepen the trading relationship between our two countries.”
He added: “Yesterday I had two reactions to the evident enthusiasm that you saw from president Trump for a deeper trade relationship with the UK, which is something the UK Government wants to see as well.
“Firstly, I was really excited by it. But secondly, I also know, my friend the Business and Trade Secretary [Jonathan Reynolds] was keen to remind me and colleagues last night, that the warmth and enthusiasm is the bit to get the ball rolling but the hard yards are still ahead.
“We know about president Trump. He is a hard-headed businessman and he is not a pushover and, as we heard from president Trump, so don’t take my word for it as a loyal Cabinet minister, our Prime Minister is a tough negotiator as well.
“The hard yards on this are ahead. But we do want to make progress, we want to do that quickly, we genuinely think there is a lot in it for both the UK and the US and our collective economic security.”
Streeting's comments came just hours after US President Donald Trump hinted at giving the UK a "great trade deal" following his meeting with Sir Keir Starmer in the White House.
'It's not over!' Keir Starmer faces Chagos 'fightback' as US still 'deeply concerned' after Donald Trump backs deal
PA
Sir Keir Starmer has been left bracing for a "fight" against his proposed Chagos deal just moments after Donald Trump appeared to throw his weight behind the "sell-out" accord.
The Prime Minister, who left the Oval Office with plenty to smile about last night, was left buoyed by Trump's comments on the Indian Ocean archipelago.
Trump hinted at Mauritius conceding to a 140-year lease for the strategically significant Diego Garcia military base.
Speaking from the Oval Office, the 47th President said: "We're going to have some discussions about that very soon, and I have a feeling it's going to work out very well."
However, those concerned with the current arrangements almost immediately vowed to step up efforts to prevent a handover.
Tory peer Lord Ross Kempsell said: "The fight to maintain UK sovereignty over Chagos is not over - not least as Chagossians themselves have been completely erased from Starmer's sellout.
"Many around the President remain deeply concerned about this deal - including some present in the Oval Office. Now we go harder."
Reform UK MP Rupert Lowe added: "The Chagos Islands deal is disgustingly rotten to the core. It does NOT serve the British taxpayer. It's about human rights lawyers abusing their power to indulge their fantasies.
"It’s a betrayal. I hope that Donald Trump reconsiders his support for it. On this, he is wrong."
Keir Starmer's personal gifts to Donald Trump revealed
Sir Keir Starmer handed Donald Trump a number of rather personal gifts during his visit to the White House yesterday.
The Prime Minister, who left the Oval Office with a lot to smile about, gave the President a family tartan golf cap, some Downing Street golf balls, and some Downing Street crystal glasses.
First Leady Melania Trump also received a Liberty scarf, as well as a Chequers book and a Number 10 candles.
In return, Trump gave the Prime Minister a US football shirt with the name Starmer and the number 10 on the back.
Reform UK WINS huge election victory in Truss’s old seat as Tory heartland falls to Farage
Reform UK has scored a massive victory overnight in an election in Liz Truss’s old seat of South West Norfolk.
Voters in Bedingfield (Breckland) went to the polls for a council by-election, an important bell-weather event that indicates Reform’s potency ahead of local elections in May.
Nigel Farage’s party romped to victory with 54.3 per cent of the vote, well out ahead of unseated Conservatives on 27.4 per cent.
It comes as a fresh headache for Tory leader Kemi Badenoch who is trying to rebuild her party after July’s electoral drubbing is facing a huge challenge from Farage in the battle for right wing support.
Keir Starmer’s crunch talks with Donald Trump leaves top Tory ‘very concerned’ as PM’s ‘mad plan’ receives boost
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp has expressed concern after Keir Starmer’s showdown with President Trump.
Speaking to GB News, Philp expressed concern about Starmer’s “mad plan” to cede the Chagos Islands to Mauritius after Trump suggested he will offer his support.
The agreement includes a plan to lease back the US-UK military base on Diego Garcia at British taxpayers’ expense.
Home Secretary David Lammy has said the deal will not go ahead should Trump stand in its way due to its implications for US security.
Philp said on GB News: “Keir Starmer seems to have changed his tune when it comes to Donald Trump and I am pleased he is following Kemi Badenoch’s advice and getting stuck into trying to negotiate a trade deal with the USA, that is very welcome.
“There are lots of unanswered questions. Particularly over how a deal with Ukraine might work and how we’re going to make sure Ukraine’s security and future is guaranteed."
“Russia is an aggressive state which has a history of invading other people’s territory and we need to make sure Ukraine is properly protected.
“I am also very concerned about the Chagos Islands. Keir Starmer appears to be intent on continuing his mad plan to pay Mauritius £19bn or something in that region to give away territory that is British and has never been Mauritian.
“I’m very concerned about this whole Chagos Islands madness.”
‘I won’t be doing that again!’ Wes Streeting makes Trump state visit vow as he comes under fire over past attacks
Labour’s Wes Streeting has told GB News he will not stand in the way of President Trump making another state visit to the UK.
The Health Secretary had previously voiced opposition to Trump by backing a 2017 petition calling for his state visit to be denied.
The US President has now been invited back to the UK for an unprecedented second state visit, this time by Streeting’s party leader, Keir Starmer.
Asked about his previous stance on the matter, Streeting admitted “I won’t be doing that again”.
Starmer invites Zelensky to No10 after success at crunch Trump meeting
Starmer and ZelenskyPASir Keir Starmer has invited Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to Downing Street after his successful meeting with Donald Trump last night.
The Prime Minister will also convene a meeting of European leaders in London on Sunday, with French President Emmanuel Macron expected to attend.
Angela Rayner promises 'new' Islamophobia definition
Angela Rayner is expected to today promise to introduce a "new" official definition of Islamophobia.
The Deputy Prime Minister will say that the Government is "putting a name" to anti-Muslim hate.
She is looking to enlist the support of ex-Tory Attorney General Dominic Grieve to chair the council to advise Rayner's Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.
Nigel Farage to spark ‘political thunderbolt’ as bombshell poll hands Reform nearly 200 seats
A seat projection map by Electoral Calculus would place Reform UK on 192 seatsGB News/Electoral CalculusReform UK will, for the first time, win both the most votes and the most seats if a general election were to be held tomorrow, a new opinion poll has shown.
In a poll by Electoral Calculus, Nigel Farage’s Reform UK party has polled at 25.8 per cent, with Labour behind on 24.7 per cent and Kemi Badenoch’s Conservative party in third on 21.9 per cent.
The new opinion poll would place Reform UK on 192 seats, with Labour on 178 seats down from 404, with the Conservative party trailing on 142 seats and no longer the official opposition.
Responding to the poll, a Reform UK spokesman said: “This polling confirms what we all know, Reform has all the momentum in British politics.
Donald Trump confirms US-UK trade deal to come ‘very quickly’ in major boost to Brexit Britain
Donald Trump has promised that Britain will be in line for a "trade agreement" in a joint press conference with Sir Keir Starmer this evening.
Just hours after slapping down the EU and hailing Brexit as the "right thing at the right time", the tariff-happy President said a deal was in line to come "very quickly".
"We're going to have a great trade agreement," Trump said. "We're going to end up with a very good trade agreement for both countries, and we're working on that as we speak."
Starmer, a few minutes later, promised that he and Trump "will work on a new economic deal with advanced technology at its core".
Earlier, though Trump warned that Britain was not out of the woods on tariffs just yet, he again threatened the Brussels bloc with trade duties.
"The EU was very tough on us from the standpoint of trade," Trump said, and added that UK-US relations are in a "warm spot".
"We're talking about a very different place. A place where I have investments," the President said.
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