Politics latest: Fears of 'all-out war' as foreign secretary heads to Israel for talks (2024)

By Alix Culbertson, political reporter

People living in areas at the highest risk of flooding face cuts to key services due to a sharp rise in flood defence costs, councils have warned.

The government is being urged to overhaul funding for the bodies overseeing flood alleviation as soaring costs have seen an average rise of 28% over the past two years, according to data from the District Councils' Network, which represents 169 English councils.

Higher energy and fuel prices - needed for pumping stations - increasingly extreme wet weather and wage increases are the main causes of the cost of flood defences being pushed up for the current 2024/25 financial year.

By Deborah Haynes, security and defence editor

Ukrainian troops have used British Challenger 2 tanks in their offensive inside Russia, Sky News understands.

It is believed to be the first time British tanks - operated byUkrainiansoldiers - have been used in combat on Russian territory.

The Ministry of Defence in London declined to comment on operational detail, but did tell Sky News there has been no change in policy.

Ukraine's armed forces did not offer a comment.

According to government policy, the UK has confirmed Ukraine is free to use British weapons on Russian territory.

A source said this included Challenger 2 tanks and signalled that they had been used during the Ukrainian incursion, which began on 6 August.

On what was A-level results day, the education secretary was asked about the controversial prospect of raising tuition fees as many universities grapple with serious financial challenges.

Our business correspondent Paul Kelsosays the picture across the sector right now is pretty negative.

And that's because, anecdotally at least, there's been a 30% fall in how many overseas students are applying for British universities.

"That matters because overseas students underwrite the British university system," says Paul. "They may make up about 26% of the academic population, but provide 46% of the fees."

So why the drop in applications? Britain's top universities have long been extremely popular with international students.

Paul says the sector thinks it's being driven largely by visa rule changes the previous government introduced, which include preventing foreign students from bringing family members with them.

It was a bid by Rishi Sunak to bring down levels of immigration.

The change and subsequent drop in applicants "poses a fundamental threat to the financial health of the university sector", says Paul.

"Domestic fees simply do not cover the cost".

The Sky News Daily podcast looked into this further - watch a clip below and find the full episode at the top of this page.

As students receive their A-level results, many of the universities they'llenrol in are facing their own concerns.

Academics have warned years of underfunding and a lack of lucrative international studentsat British universitiesafter visa changes risk the sector's abilityto provide top-class education and, for some institutions, whether they'llbe able to keep teaching at all.

On this episode, Niall Paterson is joined by two university vice-chancellors, Professor Jane HarringtonatGreenwichand Professor David MaguireatEast Anglia, to hear the realities and challenges faced by universities across the country.

Plus, our business correspondent Paul Kelso explains why higher education is facing the crisis it'sin now.

👉Click to subscribe to the Sky News Daily wherever you get your podcasts👈

The Scottish first minster held talks with the deputy prime minister in Edinburgh today - and had a bone to pick.

John Swinney raised the UK government's decision to begin means testing the winter fuel payment, which means only those eligible for existing benefits will still receive it.

The SNP administration at Holyrood said yesterday it would have to adopt the same policy because the controversial move had left it with a £160m gap in spending power.

Mr Swinney has conceded it will impact "tens of thousands" of pensioners and "expressed concern" with Angela Rayner today.

He also reiterated his desire for an "injection of investment" in the country's public services.

But he's still hoping for a more positive relationship with the Labour government than his party had with the Tories, working together on "shared priorities" such as reaching net zero.

By Darren McCaffrey, political correspondent

Make no two bones about it – it has been a good week on the economic news front.

Today's stellar GDP growth figures at 0.6% are in line with expectation but are also a reflection of a strong year of growth, with the UK the fastest growing in the G7 this year - although it has lagged slightly behind the US in Q2.

This - coupled with falling unemployment, wage growth and pretty stable inflation (listen to the podcast on this in the previous post) - means the macroeconomic situation has not looked this good in years.

Normally the government would be crowing from the rooftops about such good news.

Instead, the Treasury this morning continues to talk about the "scale of challenges" and being determined "to fix the foundations".

Why? Because they want to stop the Conservatives - who are unsurprisingly very frustrated - from being able to claim the last government left the country in a good state.

Politically, this is important for Labour – part of a wider strategy to thrash the Tory record, while cementing future credit for economic good news.

Despite the attempt to shape narratives, in the end voters will only really thank Labour if this stellar economic growth continues.

Inflation is up for the first time this year.

Prices went up by 2.2% in the year to July – moving the rate above the Bank of England target of 2%.

Experts had expected an up tick as energy prices are falling by less than they did a year ago, and the increase doesn'tseem to change hope forfurther interest rate cuts in the months to come.

But what else can we expect from the economy this autumn as the new government continues to warn about the "challenges" it'sinherited, and as the chancellor prepares her first budget in October?

Joining Niall Patersonis our business correspondent Paul Kelso and political correspondent Darren McCaffrey.

👉 Click to subscribe to the Sky News Daily wherever you get your podcasts 👈

It's time for your evening bulletin from the Politics Hub - summing up the main things you need to know today:

• The foreign secretary, David Lammy, is heading to Israel for talks with the country's prime minister;
• A source described the meeting with Benjamin Netanyahu as "an attempt to prevent all-out war" in the Middle East, amid fears of an Iranian attack on Israel and talks over a ceasefire in Gaza;
• Mr Lammy described it as a "crucial moment for global security".

• Sticking with foreign policy, and the Ministry of Defence has said it'shappy for Ukraine to be using British weapons inside Russia;
• Sky News understands tanks supplied by the UK are also being deployed across the borderduring Kyiv's surprise incursion.

• On the domestic front,the Tories claim the chancellor will be "fuming"after new figures showedBritain's economy grew during the previous quarter;
• Rachel Reeves has repeatedly bemoaned the government's economic inheritance from Rishi Sunak's administration, butGDP is up 0.6% - higher than other major European countries;
• And on A-level results day, the education secretary told Sky News it would be"unpalatable" to raise tuition feesdespite the financial challenges facing Britain's universities.

That's all for now - we'll bring you any further political news and analysis over the next few hours.

As we just reported, the foreign secretary is heading to Israel for talks with the country's prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu.

Here's a quick catch-up on where we're at.

Israel, Qatar, Egypt, and the US are all currently engaged in ceasefire talks in Doha as they try to de-escalate the situation in the Middle East.

While the UK is not directly involved in the talks today in Qatar, Sir Keir Starmer and the Westminster government is still working to try to lower the temperature in the region.

You can read more about the situation in our live blog here.

Over the weekend, Sir Keir picked up the phone and rang Iranian PresidentMasoud Pezeshkian - urging him to "de-escalate and avoid further regional confrontation", according to Downing Street.

But the president rejected that, saying retaliation against Israel is a "right", according to an Iranian news agency, with Israel an "aggressor".

Starmer's top ministers on diplomatic offensive

Elsewhere, the likes of Foreign Secretary David Lammy and Defence Secretary John Healey have both been engaged in diplomatic efforts.

On Wednesday, Mr Lammy met with the Saudi foreign minister in London - where the pair discussed working together towards de-escalation, a ceasefire, and a release of hostages.

While Saudi Arabia and Iran have had sometimes complicated relations, Riyadh still wields significant influence in the Middle East.

Mr Healey, meanwhile, spoke to US defence secretary Lloyd Austin yesterday, with the pair discussing the "urgent need for restraint and de-escalation" in the Middle East.

David Lammy will travel to Israel in the coming hours, Sky News understands.

A diplomatic source described the imminent trip as "an attempt to prevent all-out war in the Middle East".

He will meet Israeli foreign minister Israel Katz, and it's understood talks with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are also expected.

The French foreign minister is set to arrive with Mr Lammy, who has described the situation as a "crucial moment for global stability".

It comes amid fears of an Iranian attack on Israel, as talks over a possible Gaza ceasefire take place in Qatar.

Iran has been expected to attack in retaliation for the death of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran last month.

Israel's foreign affairs ministry said the talks with Mr Lammy and his French counterpart would reflect efforts to prevent "regional escalation" and "promote a fair deal for the release of Israeli hostages" in Gaza.