All posts tagged: Peter Kyle

Starmer to bring back 76 EU laws

Starmer to bring back 76 EU laws

Published by Sam Flores

Sir Keir Starmer is set to bring 76 European Union directives back on to the UK statute book as the Government seeks closer alignment to the single market. The Prime Minister will introduce new legislation in the King’s Speech in May to allow Labour to transfer swathes of European regulation covering the agriculture and food sectors. The new bill will pave the way for a sector-wide trade deal with the EU, which would see the UK adopt reams of Brussels red tape covering areas such as food hygiene, organic pet food and even marmalade production. Rachel Reeves set out plans last week to incorporate EU laws in key sectors into British law. Speaking at her Mais economic lecture, the Chancellor said the Government would seek closer alignment in the “national interest”. Certain industries with “unique characteristics or strategic importance for the UK” would remain under British law, she explained, but that would be the “exception, not the norm”. The transfer of Brussels powers back on to the UK statute book will be outlined in the …

UK to raise steel tariffs to 50 percent in new sector strategy this week – POLITICO

UK to raise steel tariffs to 50 percent in new sector strategy this week – POLITICO

Published by Sam Flores

British officials have told both U.K. steel producers and downstream importers, who use steel in everything from construction to automotive manufacturing, to expect a 50 percent duty outside of new quotas in a move “likely to be similar to the EU,” said a second industry figure. Both industry figures were granted anonymity as they were not authorized to speak publicly. Last October, the EU announced plans to reduce its quotas on foreign steel imports by almost half and levy a 50 percent tariff on goods exceeding the cap. The move is part of an overhaul of so-called safeguard protections that expire in both the EU and U.K., under World Trade Organization rules, at the end of June. The U.K.’s strategy setting out the future of the sector has been repeatedly delayed. On Thursday, Kyle will set out a new scheme of trade protections to replace the so-called steel safeguards scheme. A Tata Steel UK executive told lawmakers in early February that the government “had eight weeks to save the British steel industry” by shielding it …

Starmer allies turn against Blair over Iran critique – POLITICO

Starmer allies turn against Blair over Iran critique – POLITICO

Published by Sam Flores

Starmer mirrored Blair’s “mission-led” approach on entering No.10 and hired a raft of former Blair operatives, including Jonathan Powell to advise on national security and Alan Milburn to work on NHS reforms. He gave plum Cabinet positions to Blair’s closest intellectual heirs, Wes Streeting and Peter Kyle. Most notoriously, he put Blair’s old lieutenant Peter Mandelson back at the apex of British politics by hiring him as U.S. ambassador, before being forced to sack him amid still-unfolding revelations about his closeness to Jeffrey Epstein. Despite the numerous threads connecting them, Blair has been a recurring critic of Starmer’s policies, particularly on his net zero agenda, via his eponymous global think tank. But his latest intervention only underlines that when it comes to Iran, Starmer may be quite happy to find himself out of favor with Blair.  Neither Starmer nor the wider Labour Party is willing to shake off Blair’s influence altogether, however. | Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images Starmer actively talked up the difference between his own actions on Iran and Blair’s role in sending troops to …

Inside Keir Starmer’s efforts to stop a coup – POLITICO

Inside Keir Starmer’s efforts to stop a coup – POLITICO

Published by Sam Flores

The coming storm  The most immediate task is how to deal with the now-promised release of files relating to Mandelson’s appointment, a move for transparency that could prove damaging for Starmer and his top team as well as the former envoy. Managing this moment could put him on the front foot again, if handled with extreme caution and fortitude.   One former aide who worked closely with Starmer, granted anonymity like others in this piece to speak candidly, said: “What is clear is the prime minister isn’t going to just give up. That’s not him. That’s not his nature… If he thinks he’s in the right position, he will hunker down.” The most immediate task is how to deal with the now-promised release of files relating to Peter Mandelson’s appointment. | Andy Rain/EPA MPs are despairing that Starmer has been blaming Mandelson’s “lies” rather than wholeheartedly accepting his own judgement was in question. The same ex-aide quoted above said that when more information is made public, Starmer may finally have to say: “I made a mistake… …

Britain signs critical minerals deal with Trump administration – POLITICO

Britain signs critical minerals deal with Trump administration – POLITICO

Published by Sam Flores

Under the terms of the deal, the two countries have agreed to use economic policy tools and coordinated investment to secure supplies of critical minerals and crack down on subsidized imports that risk undercutting domestic production. They will jointly identify priority projects, mobilize financing for developments, and share intelligence on investments that could threaten domestic capabilities in either country. The partnership signals a tougher stance on market distortion, with both sides pledging to protect their industries from “non-market policies and unfair trade practices” — including by working with allies on a global approach to pricing challenges. The agreement also states both sides will use existing legislative and diplomatic tools to review, deter and potentially block critical minerals and rare earths asset sales on national security grounds. U.S. and U.K. ministers are expected to convene within the next six months to take the partnership forward. The Trump administration, which has announced similar agreements with Mexico, the European Union and Japan, ultimately wants to establish a critical minerals trading bloc, first floated on Wednesday by Vice President …

5 things we learned following Keir Starmer around China all week – POLITICO

5 things we learned following Keir Starmer around China all week – POLITICO

Published by Sam Flores

3) Starmer and his team were genuinely loving it Keir Starmer meets student designers from Shanghai International College of Fashion and Innovation, Jan. 30, 2026. | Carl Court/Getty Images After such a build-up and so much controversy, Starmer has … been having a great time. The prime minister has struggled to peel the smile off his face and told business delegates they were “making history.” Privately, several people around him enthused about the novelty of it all (many have never visited China and Starmer has not done so since before he went into politics). One said they were looking forward to seeing how Xi operates: “He’s very enigmatic.” Briefing journalists in a small ante-room in the Forbidden City, Starmer enthused about Xi’s love of football and Shakespeare. And talking to business leaders, he repeated the president’s line about blind men finding an elephant: “One touches the leg and thinks it’s a pillow, another feels the belly and thinks it’s a wall. Too often this reflects how China is seen.” So into the spirit was Starmer …