King hosts Zelenskyy ahead of talks with Starmer

lectoral Dysfunction: Why won't Starmer call out Trump?

Days after Sir Keir Starmer told Beth that a US strike on Iran wasn't imminent, Donald Trump gave the go-ahead for US bunker buster bombs to hit Iran's nuclear facilities.

The UK's position on the attacks is unclear. The focus is not on what the prime minister is saying – but what he isn't saying. After a brief interview, it's clear Starmer isn't willing to either endorse the strikes or criticise Trump.

For this extra episode, Beth, Ruth and Harriet discuss the delicate situation the PM finds himself in after a full-blown escalation of the Middle East conflict.

They ask what will be going through the minds of the UK leader and those around him – and if there are any answers the government can, and will, give in the coming days.

'Welcome home': Zelenskyy arrives in parliament

Volodymyr Zelenskyy has arrived for his next visit while in the UK - to the Houses of Parliament.

The Ukrainian president was greeted by the Speakers of both the Commons and the Lords.

He got a big hug from Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle, and a handshake from his Lords counterpart, Lord Kohn McFall.

They walked inside Speaker's House where Hoyle said to him: "Welcome home. Because we feel this is your home, whenever you need to come here. We're always available to you."

Zelenskyy replied: "I'm very thankful for this visit. And again, my big thanks for your visit to Ukraine, participating in the Bucha Summit [in March]."

He went on to say he is "very thankful for His Majesty", and to the UK government and public for their "big support from the very beginning".

"I hope today to discuss all the important issues, urgent things, which are very important for us."

Hoyle said he will "never forget" his visit to Bucha, meeting people affected by the massacre in March 2022 that saw civilians shot and killed.

"Your people have suffered so much, and they still continue to suffer," he said.

"But the one thing I can always guarantee is the unity of the House of Commons. We are at one in the support of the people of Ukraine."

Ministers have no 'moral clarity' over Middle East tensions, says Badenoch

Ministers have no "moral clarity" over the Israel-Iran conflict, Kemi Badenoch has said.

She added that Attorney General Lord Hermer’s position has become "untenable", following reports he had concerns about the legality of any attack against Iran.

Speaking at a Policy Exchange event in London, the Conservative leader said: "With regards to the government, I think there is a complete absence of moral clarity and, in fact, moral courage."

She said statements on the conflict were "designed to not upset anybody and not give any views or any information".

"I do think it is quite extraordinary the position they found themselves in where the foreign secretary is unable to say whether or not he believes that the action was lawful," she added.

'The rule of law does not mean a law is good or bad'

Badenoch also hit out at Lord Hermer's "pronouncements" over the legality of strikes on Iran, describing the Labour government as one of "legal fetishism".

She added: "We know that the rule of law does not mean that a particular law is in and of itself good or bad. They're unable to talk about the morality of things.

"And the fact that it looks like they are in this position because of what Lord Hermer says, in my view, makes his position really untenable."

Zelenskyy meets King ahead of talks with Starmer

Volodymyr Zelenskyy has arrived for lunch at Windsor Castle with the King, ahead of talks with the prime minister later today.

The Ukrainian president arrived for the meeting, which wasn't announced in advance, just after 1pm.

The men have developed a close relationship and met on several occasions, with the King showing support for the president and the people of Ukraine ever since the war began.

The King last met Zelenskyy at Sandringham in Norfolk in March, just two days after his bruising encounter with Donald Trump in the Oval Office. 

At the time, Zelenskyy spoke of how grateful he was for the Royal Family's support. The men first met in 2023 and since then the King has visited Ukrainian troops being trained in Wiltshire.

King's tribute to Ukrainian 'heroism'

In a message to mark two years of the conflict in February 2024, the King wrote: "The determination and strength of the Ukrainian people continues to inspire, as the unprovoked attack on their land, their lives, and livelihoods…

"Despite the tremendous hardship and pain inflicted upon them, Ukrainians continue to show the heroism with which the world associates them so closely.  

"Theirs is true valour, in the face of indescribable aggression."

Zelenskyy will meet with Keir Starmer later to discuss how allies can increase pressure on Russia, as its attacks on Ukraine continue.

Moscow reportedly fired 352 drones and 16 missiles overnight, killing at least 10 civilians - including seven in Kyiv. Zelenskyy has described Russia, North Korea, and Iran as a "coalition of murderers".

Palestine Action to be proscribed under terrorism laws

The home secretary has announced her intention to proscribe the Palestine Action (PA) protest group.

Yvette Cooper said she would do so under the Terrorism Act - the move would make it illegal to be a member of, or invite support for, PA.

In a written statement ahead of the draft order being put before parliament later, Cooper said she'd made the decision after the "disgraceful attack" on RAF Brize Norton last week.

She described the damage done to several planes at the base as "unacceptable", and had put national security at risk. Police are still investigating the incident, she added.

Cooper said it was the latest step in a "nationwide campaign of direct criminal action against businesses and institutions" by PA, including "key national infrastructure and defence firms" that support Ukraine, NATO, and other military and security alliances.

She insisted the government's terrorism proscription against PA will not impact "lawful protest groups and other organisations campaigning on issues around Palestine or the Middle East".

Bullying and sexual misconduct complaints in parliament on the rise

Bullying and sexual misconduct complaints in parliament have risen by over a third in the last year, new figures show.

The annual report by the parliamentary Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme (ICGS) shows a total of 69 complaint cases relating to bullying, harassment and sexual misconduct were opened in the last year - an increase of 35% compared to the previous year.

Of these complaints, the report showed 40% were made by MPs' staff – which were nearly all related to bullying and harassment.

The ICGS covers all individuals who work across the House of Commons – including the Commons, Lords, and all other parliamentary staff.

Alcohol 'notably prevalent'

One reason the report gives for the rise in these complaints is related to alcohol – which the watchdog say was a factor in almost one out of every five complaints investigated between April 2023 and March 2025.

Alcohol was also cited as "notably prevalent" in complaints relating specifically to sexual misconduct, with individuals accused of inappropriate and unwanted touching within the parliamentary estate.

The ICGS director said due to the "notable increase" in the number of people contacting them, the timeframe of cases being investigated has increased - meaning longer wait times for the complainants.

Despite an independent review of the ICGS finding the watchdog is "making a difference", the rapid rise in these reports will be seen as worrying for those trying to raise standards within parliament, and improve its workplace culture.

-SKY NEWS