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

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 the last 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.

The main political story this morning has been the triggering of an emergency plan to ease overcrowding in prisons, as more of those who were involved in the recent riots are jailed.

Here's what you need to know if you're just checking in:

• 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;
• Prisons minister Lord Timpson said the government had inherited a "crisis" that left the system "exposed" to shocks like the riots.

• Sir Keir Starmer has had a rough time in the polls of late, with his response to the riots and his chancellor's spending cuts not going down well;
• A new poll by Ipsos suggests just 38% of Britons have a positive view of the prime minister, and 52% think the country's going in the wrong direction;
• Sir Keir, who has decided not to take a summer holiday following the riots, is continuing his response to the unrest today with a visit to Northern Ireland.

• Sticking with Northern Ireland, where the leader of the Ulster Unionists has stood down after just over three years in the role;
• Doug Beattie cited "irreconcilable differences" with party officers;
• It comes less than two months after the party returned its first MP to Westminster for seven years.

That's all from your lunchtime bulletin - stick with us through the afternoon for the latest news and analysis from our team.

Conservative Party deputy chair Matthew Vickers has resigned from his role in order to back Robert Jenrick in the Conservative Party leadership contests.

Mr Vickers also serves as shadow policing minister, but does not need to stand back from this role to declare his support for a candidate.

However, Conservative Campaign Headquarters (CCHQ) is remaining neutral in the contest, which is why Mr Vickers is standing down.

He said the Tories "have a mountain to climb" and "need a leader that can bring us back in one term".

"I firmly believe that's Robert," he said, pointing to him having the "clearest diagnosis of why we lost" and a "compelling vision for how we change, rebuild, and win again".

You can read more about Mr Jenrick and his leadership rivals below:

The Conservatives are demanding an investigation into Labour's appointment of several senior civil servants since the election, which the Opposition claims may have broken hiring rules.

The government says the claims from the Opposition are "untrue".

The appointments include Emily Middleton, formerly ofLabour-aligned group Labour Together; and Ian Corfield, who donated to the party.

TheToriesare claiming these hirings could be down to ministers trying to "circumvent" Sir Keir Starmer's chief of staffSue Gray, who has reportedly blocked the appointment of advisers to political roles.

Alex Thomas, the programme director of the Institute for Government thinktank and a former director in the Civil Service, says the new government's steps aren't completely out of the ordinary.

He says it is possible to use an "exception" process when a minister wants to bring someone in to their department when they believe it necessary.

Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) leader Doug Beattie has announced he is standing down from the role, citing "irreconcilable differences" with party officers among his reasons.

In a statement, Mr Beattie said it has been a "huge honour" to lead the UUP since May 2021, but added: "It has not been easy and at times it has been both lonely and isolating."

'Promote a positive future'

Mr Beattie said he had lost the ability to "influence and shape the party going forward", but hoped his successor would be able to "continue the momentum I have started".

He acknowledged some in the party "did not agree with the direction and path" he had set it on, but urged whoever takes over ensures the UUP is "inclusive" and promotes "a positive future".

Our senior Ireland correspondent David Blevins said while the UUP only has one MP following the general election (their first in seven years), they are the second-largest Unionist party.

Internal issues only strengthen the Democratic Unionist Party, he added.

Sir Keir Starmer is in Northern Ireland today, where he will discuss the recent riots with the head of the country's police service.

At least 20 police officers were injured in a spate of violent incidents across early August in Northern Ireland.

Bricks, petrol bombs and other missiles were thrown at officers as anti-immigration protests brought wider unrest to areas including Belfast.

Cars were set alight and a number of businesses were severely damaged.

Elsewhere, a petrol bomb was thrown at a mosque in Newtownards.

Dozens of people have been arrested and charged with offences such as rioting and racially-motivated hate crimes.

Young children were also involved in some of the street disturbances.

Sir Keir is in Belfast, where he is expected to be briefed by Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) Chief Constable Jon Boutcher on operational details relating to the recent unrest.

The pair will also discuss wider policing challenges in Northern Ireland as part of their second engagement since the prime minister took office.