Starmer appoints Antonia Romeo as Britain’s first female cabinet secretary – UK politics live

Under existing agreements, the British government must issue clearance to the US before it can carry out military operations from UK bases

Alex Davies-Jones, a justice minister, has said the government wants to pass the legislation implementing the Chagos Islands deal as soon as it can - despite Presidient Trump's lastest diatribe about it. (See 9.34am.)

Davies-Jones was giving interviews this morning and she told Times Radio:

This deal is essential and crucial for the national security of the United Kingdom and that is the first priority of any government.

We will be bringing the bill back as soon as parliamentary time allows, because this is about national security.