JD Vance: ‘Strong Possibility’ of UK-US Trade Deal Under Trump Administration – Live Updates on UK Politics

Shadow chancellor Mel Stride, who was recently honored with a knighthood in Rishi Sunak’s resignation honors list, took to social media this morning to critique Rachel Reeves’ management of government borrowing.

In a sequence of posts, the Central Devon MP remarked:

We are currently expending over £100bn annually on debt interest, nearly double what we spend on defense. This is completely unacceptable. Taxpayers’ money is being funneled into interest payments.

Total debt was diminishing before the COVID pandemic necessitated substantial government spending to support the economy. Following the pandemic, rising interest rates driven by inflation have impacted our fiscal approach. Hence, the Conservatives devised a strategy to halt the increase in debt and actively reduce it.

Rachel Reeves previously stated that she would adhere to the pledge to decrease debt.

He then criticized her for modifying the definition of government “debt”, asserting that this has made the government susceptible to even minor market fluctuations, which he deemed “entirely irresponsible”.

He concluded by referencing Reeves’ declaration, “The responsible choice is to reduce our levels of debt and borrowing in the upcoming years,” adding, “I concur with Rachel. The issue is that she doesn’t seem to agree with herself.” Stride served as a government minister from 2015 through 2024.

Alison McGovern, a minister at the Department for Work and Pensions, has responded to the latest job statistics that revealed a decrease of 78,000 in the number of payrolled workers in the UK.

The Labour MP for Birkenhead stated:

We are committed to revitalizing the UK economy through our transformational plan, which involves overhauling job centers, cultivating quality employment, enhancing skill sets, facilitating the transition to net-zero, and implementing the most significant upgrade to workers’ rights seen in a generation.

This month, local governments are initiating their efforts to address the underlying causes of inactivity as we strive to restore health and employment across Britain—with the backing of a £125m investment.

Real wages are on the rise, and the “National Living Wage” will also be effective this month, which will enhance workers’ paychecks and uplift living standards as part of our transformational agenda.

According to the ONS figures, wages increased by 5.9% in the three months leading to February, while the unemployment rate remained steady at 4.4%.

Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey is currently campaigning in Cambridgeshire as part of preparations for local elections in May in various regions of England. He has continued to exert pressure on the UK government following Wera Hobhouse‘s denial of entry into Hong Kong by local authorities.

In a statement made last night, Davey indicated that statements from Chinese officials suggest “no explanation for the appalling treatment of my colleague and friend Wera Hobhouse is forthcoming.” Davey asserted, “We cannot simply allow this to pass unnoticed.”

He further elaborated:

Preventing a British Parliamentarian from entering Hong Kong for a private family visit, without justification, undermines UK-China diplomatic relations and will deter all UK politicians who advocate for freedom and democracy. Thus it is vital that we secure a statement detailing the Chinese authorities’ reasoning for this action.

It has become increasingly evident that the Chinese authorities are unwilling to cooperate. The Foreign Secretary must take the exceptional measure of summoning the Chinese ambassador personally to provide a detailed and comprehensive explanation as to why Wera was denied entry.

Business and trade minister Sarah Jones emphasized the government’s preference to include another private firm in managing British Steel instead of pursuing permanent nationalization.

While appearing on Sky News, she stated that “we are being meticulous to handle this situation correctly, as we do not wish to waste taxpayers’ money”. She added, “that’s why our preference is for a private sector partner to intervene.”

Jones did not disregard the possibility of engaging another Chinese firm despite senior Labour members urging the government to reassess Chinese investments in UK infrastructure.

She addressed the viewers:

At this moment, I am not making a commitment either way concerning options not currently on the table or under discussion.

Regardless of what the future holds for Scunthorpe, we intend to maintain primary steel production, preserving our domestic steelmaking capability, while stimulating industry growth rather than witnessing continued decline as seen over recent years.

Sarah Jones, Business and Trade Minister, asserted that funds necessary for the rescue of the British Steel facility in Scunthorpe are already accounted for in the budget and are “within the existing fiscal envelope”.

In an interview on Times Radio this morning, the Labour MP for Croydon West proclaimed:

We have clearly stated that the future of the Scunthorpe site is not just crucial for the 2,700 employees there, but also indicates a growing demand for steel within the UK. We recognize a market exists.

We require more steel to build 1.5m homes, to support clean energy efforts, to develop rail systems, to improve infrastructure at Heathrow—all of which signify significant ongoing industry potential that we must nurture.

Our manifesto outlined a £2.5bn investment in the UK steel sector through our strategic plan for steel. This fund is intended to ensure the steel industry can thrive well into the future, all while adhering to established fiscal laws and governmental regulations.

Onay Kasab, national lead officer at Unite, has charged Birmingham city council with “shifting the goalposts repeatedly” throughout the dispute that has led to significant accumulations of uncollected waste on the streets.

Speaking during an appearance on the BBC Radio 4 Today programme, Kasab stated:

The reality is that the council has altered its stance on multiple occasions. At various points, they claimed the issue was equal pay, while at others, they suggested it revolved around the quality of service. I’m unsure how one can enhance service by reducing workers’ wages.

It’s essential for alternative political decisions to be made. Why should working individuals shoulder the burden of austerity measures? Why should our members bear the consequences of reduced funding for local services?

When questioned about the historical liabilities regarding equal pay, Kasab responded:

The council has mentioned equal pay obligations. However, no specifics about those obligations have been provided. The issue at hand with equal pay is not about elevating women’s wages; rather, it involves a downward harmonization. Different political choices regarding local authority funding need to be considered.

In a heated interaction, presenter Nick Robinson confronted Kasab about a previously reported anonymous briefing from the BBC, which accused Unite’s national leadership of perpetuating the dispute while being “under the influence of individuals who prioritize disruption, conflict, and revolution.”

Kasab countered:

Honestly, I find that argument to be juvenile. We are engaged in the defense of our members’ pay and conditions, and we will not apologize for that. I’m not going to engage in character attacks, but that kind of briefing is immature. Our priority is to resolve this conflict.

After Unite union voted to reject a pay proposal from Birmingham city council, business and trade minister Sarah Jones reiterated the government’s plea for the dispute to be resolved.

While on the BBC Breakfast program, she remarked:

What needs to happen immediately is that the strike should be terminated. Unite must agree to the proposal currently available. It’s a solid offer, and that’s our request to return to normalcy in Birmingham.

Other councils are stepping in to lend support, with logistics being managed by the Army, and some private sector assistance already in place. Nonetheless, it is wholly inappropriate; the images are distressing. People already have enough challenges in their lives without the added concern of rubbish collection.

Thus, our message is unequivocal: Unite must call off the strike, accept the proposal, and let’s restore normalcy, which is both expected and deserved by the public.

Today, government ministers are assessing some discouraging economic news, as the number of individuals on UK company payrolls has decreased at the fastest rate since the peak of the Covid pandemic, and UK business confidence appears to have dropped to its lowest point in over two years.

My colleague Richard Partington reports:

Data from the Office for National Statistics indicates that the count of individuals employed in at least one PAYE job declined by 78,000 in March, following a revised reduction of 8,000 in February.

Mirroring a slowdown in the job market, the latest figures noted that annual pay growth saw a slight increase in the three months leading to February, remaining at historically elevated levels. Regular pay, excluding bonuses, ascended to 5.9%, up from a revised 5.8% during the previous rolling three-month period leading to January.

The ONS maintained that despite the decline in payroll numbers, the official unemployment rate stayed constant at 4.4% during the three months leading to February.

It is important to note that there is currently a caveat surrounding the ONS labour market data, as the accuracy of some of its findings has been questioned.

Business and trade minister Sarah Jones has expressed her appreciation for the remarks made by US vice-president JD Vance, indicating that the US is “working very hard” with the UK to negotiate a trade agreement.

During her appearance on LBC radio, the Labour MP for Croydon West commented:

The discussions are ongoing; I cannot provide further updates at this time. We are in a good place and are having constructive dialogues.

The secretary of state, Jonathan Reynolds, has been engaged in fruitful discussions with our partners, and we believe there’s an opportunity for a deal.

However, I cannot predict when this will be finalized, but it is encouraging that the vice-president expresses a favorable outlook regarding our negotiations.

JD Vance expressed confidence that the US intends to secure a “great” trade agreement with the UK.

In a discussion with the online platform Unherd, the US vice president shared with Sohrab Ahmari:

We are diligently collaborating with Keir Starmer’s government. The president has a profound admiration for the UK; he appreciated the queen and holds a deep respect for the king. This relationship is significant. Furthermore, he has various vital business associations in the UK.

However, it goes beyond mere business. There exists a substantial cultural bond, and at its core, America fundamentally shares Anglo heritage. I believe there is a strong possibility we can achieve an agreement serving the best interests of both nations.

These statements follow shortly after the Trump administration enforced a blanket 10% tariff on UK imports, with heightened charges for specific industries like automobiles.

Good morning, and welcome to our live coverage of UK politics for Tuesday. Here are your highlights …

Although Parliament is not in session, campaigning for local elections in certain areas of England in May continues—Ed Davey will be in Cambridgeshire, while Nigel Farage plans to deliver a campaign address in the North East.

It is Martin Belam here with you today once again. Please feel free to contact me at [email protected] if you notice any typos or what you believe may be discrepancies or overlookings.