Politics latest: Chris Whitty joins government meeting on mpox - as PM suffers post-election poll slump (2024)

The Foreign Office has said it is supporting "a number of British nationals and their families" after a luxury yacht sunk off Sicily.

The British-flagged vessel went under after a tornado, and at least one person has died.

UK tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch is among those missing, while his wife has been rescued.

A Foreign Office spokesperson said as well as providing support, they were also in contact with local authorities.

You can follow live updates in our dedicated blog:

The working day is likely almost over for many of you, so here's a quick rundown on the day's political news for your journey home:

• Sir Keir Starmer has blamed a "terrible inheritance" left by the Tories for the government's decision to activate an emergency prisons plan;
• Operation Early Dawn - that's the name of the contingency measure that will see prisoners held in police cells for longer due to a shortage of jail space;
• It was activated this morning as the justice system continues to move fast to prosecute rioters, with many having been jailed, but the prime minister admitted the "difficult decision" was one he'd have preferred not to make.

• Professor Chris Whitty has joined ministers today for a meeting about the UK's preparedness for mpox;
• It comes after an outbreak in Africa, which also reached Europe last week, was named a "global health emergency" by the World Health Organization;
• Today's meeting was to "ensure sufficient plans are in place to deal with any potential cases" in Britain.

• In Northern Ireland, Ulster Unionists leader Doug Beattie has stood down over "irreconcilable differences" with party officers;
• It comes less than two months after the party returned its first MP to Westminster for seven years;
  
• And in the Tory party leadership contest, deputy chair Matthew Vickers has quit his post in order to back Robert Jenrick for the top job.

That's all from your evening bulletin.

After a morning in Northern Ireland, Sir Keir Starmer has gone to Wales for his first in-person meeting with the new first minister.

Eluned Morgan took up the role earlier this month.

They will discuss the importance of a strong relationship between the Welsh government and the one at Westminster.

The two leaders are in Cardiff this afternoon, and tomorrow will visit a renewable energy site to see how Welsh companies are investing in clean power and helping the transition to net zero.

It also comes after the UK government announced funding for any business impacted by job losses at Port Talbot's Tata Steel, the country's biggest steelworks.

The transport secretary has been left rather embarrassed by the latest strikes threat by Britain's railway unions, says our chief political correspondent Jon Craig.

Last week she proudly announced an end to a pay dispute between the government and the Aslef union, which represents train drivers.

After several years of strikes, Ms Haigh agreed to a "hefty pay rise" of 5% backdated to 2022/23, 4.75% for the following year, and 4.5% for the coming financial year.

She suggested it had finally brought strikes to an end.

"Embarrassingly for her," says Jon, "almost immediately afterwards we've got Aslef threatening strikes over a separate dispute."

"This is not over pay," Jon notes, but working conditions.

It would see Aslef's members employed by LNER strike every weekend from the end of August to mid-September.

Ms Haigh has "made her frustrations clear", says Jon, calling on union leaders and LNER to "get round the table" before the strikes begin.

LNER has said it's focused on "minimising disruption" during the forthcoming strikes - but there's no sign yet of them being averted.

An emergency plan to avoid overcrowding in jails has been triggered amid the sentencing of hundreds of rioters.

Here's what you need to know.

What is this emergency plan?

Operation Early Dawn is a long-standing idea that means defendants waiting for a court appearance could be held in police cells for longer until prison space is available.

But it could mean court dates are delayed at short notice, with both the prison estate and justice system under pressure.

Courts have been moving quickly to hear sentence those involved in the riots and many have been given jail sentences.

How will it work in practice?

Defendants being held in custody are only summoned before magistrates when extra prison capacity is confirmed.

The process helps to minimise disruption to bail hearings and is seen as a short-term measure to manage capacity pressure in a number of regions.

The operation involves assessments being carried out every morning and throughout the day.

This looks at which defendants can appear in court and the prison locations available should they be remanded in custody.

Will it mean fewer arrests?

Operation Early Dawn will not have any impact on police arresting criminals – and anyone who poses a risk will still not be bailed.

The measure will also not impact ongoing crown court trials, with prisoners appearing at hearings and then returning to jail as normal.

How did we reach this point?

Our political correspondent Mhari Aurorasays when Labour came to power back in July, the prison estate was already "massively overcrowded" and many jails deemed "not fit for purpose".

The state of prisons was one of the main criticisms the PM had for the previous Tory government when he entered office, and today he's said Rishi Sunak left him with a "terrible inheritance".

Mhari notes the courts system was also "massively clogged up".

Add in the influx of rioters being sentenced, and you have a "perfect storm" requiring the activation of Operation Early Dawn.

Our main story today is the government triggering an emergency measure allowing for prisoners to be held in police cells due to high demand for jail places.

Operation Early Dawn has been activated amid a flurry of court cases involving people involved in the recent riots, many of whom have been handed prison sentences.

Speaking in Belfast, which was among the cities and towns impacted by unrest this month, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer admitted it was a decision "nobody wants to take".

He blamed it on the "terrible inheritance on prisons" from Rishi Sunak's Conservative government.

"There was a basic failure, which is a failure to have enough prison places for the number of prisoners that were being sentenced," he said.

"We've had to deal with that with the additional strain of the disorder of recent weeks."

'Speedy justice' helping to deter violence

Sir Keir paid tribute to the speed at which the justice system was dealing with rioters, saying it had helped deter further unrest.

Speaking alongside the PM, the chief constable of Northern Ireland's police service said he hoped the "speedy justice" seen in England could be replicated.

Jon Boutcher said the justice system had moved "much slower" in Northern Ireland and had spoken with Sir Keir about resources.

Having reached two finals in a row, England will be hoping to go one better when the next men's Euros tournament comes round.

That's in 2028, and will be hosted by the UK and Ireland.

But one of the stadiums earmarked for the competition, Belfast's Casem*nt Park, has been beset by issues.

The ground is derelict and funding required to rebuild in time is not currently in place, prompting concerns the city will miss out.

'In due course, we'll be able to say more'

Sir Keir Starmer, who is visiting Belfast today, said there were "obvious issues" with timing and costs but suggested there would be news from the government "in due course".

"We're looking at it," he said.

"The key challenges at the moment are well known, particularly in Northern Ireland, which is the timing in relation to the Euros and the cost.

"They are issues that we're looking at very carefully."

Sir Keir Starmer's commitment to Ukraine "remains absolutely resolute", despite President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's suggestion the UK's leadership when it comes to military support had "slowed down recently".

Mr Zelenskyy's allegation was made as Kyiv's forces continue their incursion into Russian territory, making advances in the Kursk region.

A Number 10 spokeswoman said the prime minister "wants to set out his full admiration for the bravery shown by Ukrainian soldiers".

"But in terms of our support, again, it is unwavering," she said.

"That's why we committed to £3bn a year in support for Ukraine to do that for as long as it (the war) lasts."

She would not be drawn on whether the UK was happy for Ukraine to use Storm Shadow missiles in Kursk, as it has British weapons and tanks.

She would only say: "We are providing military aid to support Ukraine's clear right to self-defence."

Pat McFadden, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, has chaired a ministerial level meeting on the UK's preparedness for mpox.

This is to "ensure sufficient plans are in place to deal with any potential cases", the government said.

He was joined by ministers from the Department of Health and the Foreign Office, as well as chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty.

Last week, mpox was declared a global emergency by the World Health Organization (WHO), with a new strain spreading across Africa.

Watch: What is mpox?

Virus reaches Europe

Officials announced an outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo was now a "public health emergency of international concern".

A case was confirmed in Sweden last week - the first in Europe.

It is the second time in three years the WHO has designated an mpox epidemic as a global emergency.

It comes as the number of cases reported so far this year has already exceeded last year's total, with more than 15,600 cases and 537 deaths according to the WHO.

You can read more on the spread of mpox below:

By Mollie Malone, home news correspondent

Two things feel a long way offfor the prison system right now: September, and reform.

10 September is the point at which a new government early release scheme comes in, meaning thousands of offenders will be released earlier than they would have previously to free up space.

The automatic release point will reduce from 50% of a sentence to 40%, with eligible offenders serving the rest on licence, though there are exclusions for domestic abuse perpetrators and serious violent criminals.

That date will be seen as breathing space for the government and for a prison system that is bursting, but will feel further than three weeks away while the service battles to see off the prospect of daily overcrowding disasters and seeks to make room for convicted rioters.

The prison service likes to operate with a margin of around 1,400 free spaces and right now there are just over 300 in the male estate.

They consider themselves unable to operate with less than 300.

Reform feels a long way off

These numbers illustrate the lack of manoeuvring margin and why action was taken today with Operation Early Dawn.

And it's also why meaningful reform the new government might want to make feels a long way off.

Prisons minister James Timpson is known for employing ex-offenders to help reskill and rehabilitate, and had given penal reformers high hopes.

He believes a third of those behind bars shouldn't be there and should be out helping in the community.

But ideology is giving way to immediacy right now, and it could be that way for a while.