New Tory shadow cabinet revealed - but there's a notable absentee

The 'gesture of friendship' that could help Labour's ties with Trump

Few would argue that Kamala Harris would be a more natural ally for Britain's Labour government than Donald Trump.

But Sir Keir Starmer has been laying the groundwork for a Trump win in today's US election, most notably by meeting the Republican candidate for dinner at Trump Tower in New York in September.

Our deputy political editor Sam Coates shared more details on that secretive meeting on this morning's Politics At Jack And Sam's after confirming some titbits that emerged in the weekend newspapers.

Those in Whitehall believe the fact it was in Trump Tower is a good sign, and there was some warmth between the two camps.

'You and I are friends'

"At the end of the meal," Sam says, "Donald Trump looked at Sir Keir and said: 'You and I are friends. You're a liberal so we won't always agree, but we can work together.'"

As if that wasn't encouraging enough, get a load of what the former president did for David Lammy, who was also there.

As Sam says, the foreign secretary has made some "extremely disobliging" comments about Mr Trump in the past, but apparently was "laughing in all the right places" during the meeting and was rewarded with the offer of a second portion of food.

That, Sam's told, was a "gesture of friendship" by Mr Trump.

There's no better diplomacy than dinner - you can watch more on this from Sam below:

Labour MP 'attacked and mugged' as he returned home in London

Chris Webb, the Labour MP for Blackpool South, has revealed he was mugged as he was returning to his flat in London last night.

The MP said he was unharmed, but his phone was stolen.

He said: "Last night, as I was returning to my flat in London, I was attacked and mugged by a group of individuals. 

" Luckily, I have no injuries, and I am OK. Unfortunately, they just took my phone, so I’m without one for the foreseeable future. 

"I want to thank the Met Police for their swift response and support. 

"The officers who assisted me went above and beyond. 

"They are a remarkable credit to the force."

Lammy meets Nigerian president in first trip to Africa as foreign secretary

Foreign Secretary David Lammy has visited Nigeria this week, where he met President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Mr Lammy is now in South Africa, where he will attend the Earthshot Prize environmental awards - hosted by Prince William - on Wednesday night.

Of his trip to Nigeria, the minister said: "The UK and Nigeria are united by shared aspirations for growth and our common interests in peace and security. 

"That's why it is the first African country I have visited as foreign secretary."

Tugendhat turned down job in shadow cabinet, Tory source says

Ex-Conservative leadership hopeful Tom Tugendhat turned down a job in Kemi Badenoch's top team, a Tory source has told Sky News.

Mr Tugendhat was notably missing from Ms Badenoch's shadow cabinet, despite the Tory leader saying she would offer all her competitors a role.

But we now understand that Mr Tugendhat was offered a job and turned it down.

It is unclear what this role was, and who was given it afterwards.

Sky News' deputy political editor Sam Coates and Politico's Jack Blanchard share their daily guide to the day ahead in politics in under 20 minutes.        

Kemi Badenoch continues to appoint her frontbench today – all in time for her to chair her first shadow cabinet meeting.  

With Priti Patel as the shadow foreign secretary – what does it tell us about Ms Badenoch’s attempts to unite the party? And how will she fill all the other spots, when she only has 121 MPs to choose from? 

Also today, the government is focused on its long-trailed policy to ban smoking, as the Tobacco and Vapes Bill is introduced to parliament. 

And how is the UK government preparing for the US election?

Badenoch will not appoint a deputy, Sky News understands

Kemi Badenoch will not be appointing a deputy leader in her shadow cabinet, Sky News understands.

The new Conservative leader did not include a deputy in the announcement of her top team, and we understand this is the full shadow cabinet.

This means, should Sir Keir Starmer be out of the country, it is unclear who would face deputy prime minister Angela Rayner at Prime Minister's Questions.

Typically, this would the deputy leader of the opposition.

Badenoch: Team 'based on meritocracy and experience'

After confirming her shadow cabinet this morning, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said the group "draws on the talents of people from across the Conservative Party".

She said this is "based on meritocracy and with a breadth of experience and perspective, just as I promised during the campaign".

Ms Badenoch added: "Our party's problems will only be solved with a team effort, and I am confident my shadow cabinet ministers will deliver effective opposition as we seek to win back the trust of the public. 

"We will now get to work holding Labour to account and rebuilding our party based on Conservative principles and values.

"The process of renewing our great party has now begun."

Atkins 'delighted' to be appointed shadow environment secretary

Newly appointed members of Kemi Badenoch's shadow cabinet are re-announcing their roles on social media this morning.

Victoria Atkins, the new shadow environment secretary, said she is "delighted" to be handed the brief, despite previously serving as health secretary.

She said: "Labour's budget of broken promises will hurt rural and coastal Britain and has shown that Labour does not understand the pressures we face. 

" I look forward to holding them to account on food security, climate change, flooding and the survival of family farms. 

"And my wellies are very old Hunters…"

Lib Dems criticise 'cabinet of contradictions' unveiled by Badenoch

Shortly after Kemi Badenoch unveiled her top team, the Liberal Democrats dubbed it a "cabinet of contradictions".

Sarah Olney, the party's spokesperson, warned Ms Badenoch's shadow cabinet is a "recipe for yet more Conservative chaos".

She said: "How can they claim to be able to hold this new government to account when they have just as many disagreements with each other.

"From a shadow justice secretary who wants to leave the ECHR to a shadow foreign secretary who had to resign for holding undisclosed meetings, this shadow cabinet has more than a 'whiff of impropriety'.

"The Conservative Party voted for the economic vandalism caused by Liz Truss's mini-budget and shattered the NHS. 

"Every major challenge that this country faces the Conservative Party is responsible for.

"The Liberal Democrats are the only party that can provide the decent opposition that this country needs."

Who didn't get a job in Badenoch's top team?

Notably absent from Kemi Badenoch's shadow cabinet is her Conservative leadership rival Tom Tugendhat.

Ms Badenoch previously told Sophy Ridge she would offer a job to all of her leadership competitors - and we can see Mel Stride, Priti Patel and Robert Jenrick in senior roles.

James Cleverly had already confirmed he was heading back to the backbenches, so there's no surprise he doesn't feature in the top team.

But Mr Tugendhat appears to be without a senior position.

However, it's important to point out that this isn't the full list of shadow ministers.

We also don't know if Mr Tugendhat was offered a role and ultimately declined.

We'll bring you any updates in the Politics Hub as we get them

'Government's abandoning the youth'

A big story this week is Labour's announcement that tuition fees will rise next year for the first time since they were frozen in 2017.

Tuition fees will rise to £9,525 from April 2025 - an increase of £285 per academic year.

New Tory co-chair 'glad' smoking ban in pub gardens dropped

Nigel Huddleston, the new Conservative Party co-chair, is now joining Sky News, and is asked about the government's decision to abandon a proposed smoking ban in pub gardens.

He says: "I do understand that they're not going to be doing the smoking ban outside pubs, which caused a lot of concern to my constituents and colleagues in my party.

"I am glad that that has been removed, because it is about balance."

Mr Huddleston says the bill will likely face a free vote, adding: "We will probably having people voting different ways."

The conversation then turns to Labour plans to raise university tuition fees in line with inflation, soaring to £9,535 in England.

"This is yet another example of what we're seeing as a pattern here," he says. "Labour in opposition saying one thing, and in government doing another.

"Usually at the cost of somebody - in this case, students."

He adds: "We saw this the other day with the budget, 'we're not going to raise taxes, all of our policies are fully funded, we're not going to increase debt'.

"They did the absolute opposite, and they did again - one week later - on fees."

The shadow minister accuses Labour of "not being straight" with the British public.

-SKY NEWS