Politics latest: Starmer urged to 'lean into' positive relationship with Trump

Sky News' deputy political editor Sam Coates and Politico's Anne McElvoy look at the day ahead in British politics. 

The week beings on Holocaust Memorial Day, marking 80 years since the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau. For that reason, there are no big government announcements today, but Sam and Anne will take you through Westminster’s agenda for the week – a big one for Rachel Reeves. 

The future of the economy is likely to dominate again with the chancellor giving a speech on Wednesday. An announcement on a third runway at Heathrow is expected.  

Meanwhile, Donald Trump has been praising Sir Keir Starmer after a long chat and Sam and Anne breakdown just how important that is. 

You can send us a WhatsApp on 07511 867 633 or email us: jackandsam@sky.uk 

Calls for remembrance day and monument honouring terror attack victims

Survivors of terrorist attacks have called for a national remembrance day to be introduced and a monument erected in honour of victims, following a new report.

A survey published by Survivors Against Terror (SAT) found 97% of British terror attack victims back a "national day" being created in the UK and 78% would like a permanent memorial.

Terror survivors are scheduled to discuss the proposals with security minister Dan Jarvis later today.

The non-governmental organisation (NG) is demanding government set up a "proper strategy of memorialisation" that also includes an addition to the Royal Honours system.

Honours could be awarded to those killed and "eligible persons injured" in terror acts.

An author of the report and co-founder of SAT, Travis Frain, who survived the 2017 Westminster Bridge attack, said: "What we remember matters. It reflects on us as a country.

"Whether it is the wearing of the Poppy in solidarity with our servicemen and women in the days approaching Armistice Sunday, or the efforts of organisations like the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust to ensure that we do not forget the awful atrocities that have claimed the lives of millions.

"For people affected by terrorism, ensuring that their experience is not forgotten and that society does not only remember what happened to them and their families but also learns from the lessons of these past attacks, can often be at the heart of their recovery."

'No stone should be left unturned' on Southport

Yesterday, Chancellor Rachel Reeves joined Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips.

She discussed an inquiry into the Southport murders, which has been launched after Axel Rudakubana was sentenced to a minimum of 52 years for the murder of three young girls.

Ms Reeves told Sky News that "no stone should be left unturned" in the inquiry. 

'It feels like we don't exist': The human cost of social care cuts

Angela Carson struggles to pull the damp laundry out of her washing machine. Her hands are so weak she can barely stop them from shaking.

The 65-year-old places the wet clothes onto her lap and slowly moves herself in a wheelchair through the small kitchen to another room, so they can dry.

Angela suffers from the lingering after-effects of a rare condition, Guillain-Barre syndrome, that attacks her nerves. It means she struggles to walk without two sticks by her side. Her husband Graham, who is in a motorised wheelchair, can only look on.

The 67-year-old was born with the muscle-wasting disease muscular dystrophy and now has limited movements - just in his hands - to operate the chair.

For the last seven years, the pair have relied on carers to come into their home several times a day to help with their everyday needs, including getting Graham in and out of bed using a hoist, personal hygiene, and preparing meals.

It was a week before Christmas when they received the devastating news: their local council was cancelling all of Angela's care, and reducing Graham's support. The decision was non-negotiable and came as a big shock to them both.

UK should 'lean into' positive relationship with US, says shadow minister

Dame Harriett Baldwin, the shadow business minister, has urged the government to "lean into" the friendly relationship it has with US President Donald Trump.

Asked about Mr Trump's call with Sir Keir Starmer, she told Sky News Breakfast: "I'm glad they had a friendly and constructive call. 

"I think it's really important that they have a good relationship, a good call.

"I would like to hear that positivity taken on board in terms of working out how we can do even more business together, even more trade together, because I am very concerned about the UK's growth at the moment.

"I think that the ramifications from the budget that the chancellor made back in October are feeding through into a very worrying picture of the UK economy.

"Its of importance that the government takes steps not only to lean into this positive relationship with the US, but also learn the lessons of what's gone wrong with the budget."

She said it is important to create a "better environment" for investors in the UK, alleging that the budget was "very damaging for growth".

Downing Street will be pleased with the tone of the language we've heard from Trump

Our political correspondent Mhari Aurora is now joining Kay Burley on Sky News Breakfast to discuss Sir Keir Starmer's call with Donald Trump on Sunday.

She says: "Keir Starmer and Donald Trump yesterday had this phone call, and we got a read-out from Downing Street giving us some highlights."

In the 45-minute phone call, we know that Mr Trump and Sir Keir discussed the war in the Middle East, while the newly-inaugurated president shared his condolences for the loss of the prime minister's brother.

Mhari says: "They then went on to talk about trade and UK-US relations, and what was really interesting to me was where the PM said 'we are deregulating to boost growth'.

"That will have been music to Donald Trump's ears, we know that deregulation is something that he really wants to focus on to improve the US economy.

"But nonetheless it's not something that you would necessarily hear from a left-wing government - a Labour government - which is why I think Keir Starmer is trying to please Donald Trump and perhaps show that they have some level of common ground in trying to boost both nations' economies."

But Mhari notes there was a "slightly different tone" in the White House read-out.

"That ended by saying they discussed how both countries could promote a fair, bilateral economic relationship."

She says this is "less emotive" than the British rendition.

"But nonetheless I think Downing Street will be quite pleased with the tone of the language we've heard from Donald Trump about the UK."

Politics at Jack and Sam's: The week Starmer hands control to Reeves

Sky News' deputy political editor Sam Coates and Politico's Anne McElvoy look at the day ahead in British politics. 

The week beings on Holocaust Memorial Day, marking 80 years since the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau. For that reason, there are no big government announcements today, but Sam and Anne will take you through Westminster’s agenda for the week – a big one for Rachel Reeves. 

The future of the economy is likely to dominate again with the chancellor giving a speech on Wednesday. An announcement on a third runway at Heathrow is expected.  

Meanwhile, Donald Trump has been praising Sir Keir Starmer after a long chat and Sam and Anne breakdown just how important that is. 

You can send us a WhatsApp on 07511 867 633 or email us: jackandsam@sky.uk 

Government vows to end 'throwaway society' with bottle-return scheme

Ministers have pledged to end "throwaway society" as laws paving the way for a bottle-return scheme come into force on Monday.

The European-style initiative will see people charged a deposit when buying a plastic, steel or aluminium container before receiving the money back when they hand it in for recycling at a collection point.

New parliamentary regulations have now been introduced to enable the appointment of a managing body for the scheme in April this year ahead of its scheduled launch in October 2027.

The UK government has looked to countries such as Germany, Sweden and Ireland, the former of which has seen an estimated 98% return rate under its own deposit return scheme (DRS), in developing the programme.

Ministers hope the scheme, covering England and Northern Ireland, will reduce littering in waterways and on streets, boost recycling and help protect wildlife.

Environment minister Mary Creagh said: "This government will clean up Britain and end the throwaway society.

"This is a vital step as we stop the avalanche of rubbish that is filling up our streets, rivers and oceans and protect our treasured wildlife. Turning trash into cash also delivers on our Plan for Change by kickstarting clean growth, ensuring economic stability, more resilient supply chains and new green jobs."

An embarrassing but predictable end to Scotland's National Care Service

The Scottish government is scrapping its plans to create a National Care Service.

It is an embarrassing but perhaps predictable end to years of ambitious talk about finally coming up with a solution to the social care crisis.

In a statement at Holyrood, the government tore up parts of the bill that would require major structural changes to the Scottish social care system.

The downfall of the plan wasn't money or lack of ambition necessarily.

And there was cross-party agreement on what needed to be done. The problem was a frustrating lack of consensus on how to get there.

It is also the end of the process that has been costly too.

More than £30m has already been spent on planning the policy cover the last three years.

It was one of the boldest public service reforms of the SNP's 17 years in power, with the scheme forming a key policy of former first minister Nicola Sturgeon's administration.

Speaker Lindsay Hoyle drops into Emmerdale's bistro for a cuppa

House of Commons speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle has dropped into the Emmerdale bistro, as production added him into an episode after being unable to use footage of him last year because of the general election.

Sir Lindsay’s cameo sees him enter the fictional Yorkshire village’s Hide Bar & Bistro in a tweed jacked and wellies as a Lancastrian rambler, and compliment his Yorkshire tea after ordering it.

He said: "Incredibly, Emmerdale has been on our screens for more than half a century – shining a light on the lived experience of others; entertaining viewers with its hard-hitting storylines, while also making a major economic contribution to the North.

"It has been an honour to help the cast celebrate the 10,000th episode of this enduring Yorkshire-based soap, with a visit to the Woolpack.

"As a Lancastrian, I am hugely impressed by the talent and warmth of our friends on 'the other side' of the Pennines."

Sir Lindsay visited the ITV soap as they celebrated their 10,000th episode back in May 2024, but producers were unable to use his footage of him because of restrictions on political coverage shortly before the election last June.

He was gifted wellies and met the cast, with ITV saying "with the magic of post-production Sir Lindsay was back in the Hop (Hawksford Outdoor Pursuits) in relevant time and making his order, for posterity".

Donald Trump and Sir Keir Starmer speak on phone and 'agree to meet soon'

Sir Keir Starmer and Donald Trump "stressed the importance of the close and warm ties" between their countries and "agreed to meet soon" in a phone call, Downing Street has said.

During the conversation on Sunday, the prime minister congratulated the president on his inauguration and paid tribute to his "role in securing the landmark ceasefire and hostages deal in Gaza", according to a Number 10 spokesperson.

The two leaders "discussed the importance of working together for security in the Middle East" as well as "trade and the economy".

Sir Keir told the US leader how he plans to deregulate the UK economy to boost growth, and the president spoke of his "respect and affection for the Royal Family".

Mr Trump also gave his condolences to Sir Keir over the loss of his brother, who died on Boxing Day.

-SKY NEWS