Key points
- Prime minister is in Washington DC for his first NATO summit
- Beth Rigby: An election landslide, the Oval Office, and what his parents would have thought - an insight into Starmer's world
- UK has to be 'incredibly careful' to avoid direct Russian retaliation, security minister warns
- Economy grew in May, new figures show
- Live reporting by Faith Ridler and (earlier)Ben Bloch
Starmer does not rule out 20,000 prisoners being released early
Sir Keir Starmer has not ruled out 20,000 prisoners being released early in a bid to ease pressure on the justice system - as the new prime minister told Sky News the last government acted "almost beyond recklessness" on criminals.
The state of the justice system has become one of the first major challengesSir Keirhas to face in charge of the country.
Overcrowding means the government is considering letting prisoners serve only 40% of their sentences, rather than the 50% which is currently in place.
There are reports this could mean up to 20,000 prisoners are released early over "many" months.
Asked about this by Sky News's political editorBeth Rigby, Sir Keir said: "I'm not going to get ahead of the statement [we] will make on this, but, I am not going to pretend it's not a very real problem that's been left to us."
He said the criminal justice system was a "much worse problem" than he thought it would be.
You can read more from Sky News below:
Daily podcast: Water bills to rise but how do we clean up the industry?
Water bills are to rise by an average of 21% over the next five years, the industry regulator Ofwat has ruled.
But with the impact of the cost-of-living, water companies spilling record amounts of sewage into our waters, and controversialbonuses for senior leaders, do we need a complete overhaul of theindustry?
On this episode, Niall Paterson hears from our business correspondent Paul Kelso in Henley, on the impact for consumers, providersand our water ways.
Niall also speaks to Stuart Colville, deputy CEO of Water UK, which representsthe water companies, asking why they disagree with Ofwat’s plans.
Plus, Feargal Sharkey, campaigner and former lead vocalist of The Undertones,joins Niall to share his reaction and the story behind his efforts to protect our rivers and seas.
👉Click to subscribe to the Sky News Daily wherever you get your podcasts👈
For further background from Sky News, you can read Paul Kelso’s further analysis of Ofwat's business plansfor Thames Water’s survival here.
Politics Hub With Sophy Ridge is over
Thanks for following our live updates tonight.
The show may be over, but stick with us for the latest updates and analysis from the NATO summit in Washington - and any other political news that catches our eye from closer to home.
Tory frontbencher warns against 'driving away investment' in North Sea
Andrew Bowie, the Conservative MP for West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine, is now joining Sophy Ridge.
He is asked about a Labour plan to ban future oil and gas licences in the North Sea, despite a claim that work had already been halted being rubbished today.
Mr Bowie, the shadow veterans' minister, warns against "driving away investment".
He says this will ultimately drive away jobs, adding: "We need to ensure that we continue to have exploration and drilling in the North Sea."
The frontbencher says this activity will bolster energy security, saying: "We don't want to become reliant on foreign imports."
Government working 'at pace' to reduce child poverty, says Streeting
Sophy now turns to the two-child benefit cap, which now affects around 1.6 million children.
The Conservative governmentintroduced the cap, which prevents parents from claiming child tax credit or Universal Credit for more than two children for those born after April 2017.
Wes Streeting, who is one of seven children, is asked whether he is personally comfortable with the cap.
He says he is not: "That's why I voted against it when it was brought in."
The health secretary says the government is working "at pace" to "make sure we've got a serious cross-government strategy for reducing child poverty in this country".
"What's different now to when we were last in government is so much of that poverty affects families who are both in work and in poverty," he says.
"Now, we said before the election we wouldn't make promises unless we could keep them.
"We wouldn't make promises unless we knew the country could afford them.
"I think people are going to have to bear with the government on a whole range of fronts as we try and clean up the terrible mess the Conservatives have left."
Streeting 'genuinely angry' about how junior doctors have been treated
Sophy now turns to talks Wes Streeting held with junior doctors this week, in a bid to resolve a long-lasting dispute over pay and conditions.
Further talks are set to take place next week.
"I said we wouldn't waste time," the health secretary says.
"I rang them on day one.
"We want to keep the momentum up and give junior doctors the confidence of knowing that the government will treat them with respect.
"Unlike the last government."
Sophy asks if the pay rise junior doctors are asking for - of 35% - is realistic.
"They've also said... that they're willing to negotiate," Mr Streeting says.
"And in that spirit, where we're entering this process in good faith, I'm genuinely angry at the way that junior doctors are being treated."
The health secretary points out that the last time a health secretary met with junior doctors was in March.
Health secretary: It's clear to me that the NHS is broken
Now joining Sophy Ridge on the Politics Hub is Health Secretary Wes Streeting.
He is asked about his plans to launch a full review of the NHS.
"I think sunlight is the best disinfectant," Mr Streeting says. "It's really clear to me that the NHS is broken."
The minister says that walking into the Department of Health and Social Care last week was "a bit like walking into a house that you can see is in a complete state".
He claims that a 'warts and all' review - led by Lord Darzi - would "take up the carpet, look at the floorboards and tell us how bad things really are".
Sophy asks if it would be easier for Labour to talk to the private sector to be involved in the NHS in certain ways.
Mr Streeting says the private sector's capacity will be used to bring down waiting lists, because it is "the pragmatic thing to do".
"It's also the principal thing to do because we've got a two-tiered system that's opened up where those who can afford it are going private, and those who can't have been priced out and left behind.
"My Labour principles say that working class people deserve the same quality, the same access to services as people from wealthier backgrounds."
Beth Rigby analysis: We're seeing a more confident Starmer - but it's only going to get harder for the PM
We're now hearing from our political editor Beth Rigby, who is talking us through her sit down with Prime Minister Keir Starmer earlier today.
She says that Sir Keir appears to be "becoming more confident now he's actually got the top job".
"When I asked him about President Biden, his cognitive ability, these claims about him going senile," Beth adds.
"I thought he might swerve the question, but after a couple of attempts he did not.
"When I asked him is it misguided, he quite simply said yes - yes, personally, I think it is.
"He's being a bit more forthright in his views, but also being very diplomatic there when I asked him about the prospect of a Trump presidency.
"He was very clean about that, saying that's down to the American people."
Beth says this may be the only time Sir Keir can be on the world stage "without political baggage".
She goes on to say this is a "very positive trip" for Sir Keir, but it is "going to get harder when he gets home".
It's a big week for Starmer - but Biden's health has overshadowed NATO
Sir Keir Starmer is at his very first NATO summit as prime minister – talking defence – security and geopolitics.
It's a chance to strut the world stage, to look prime ministerial, and, perhaps most important of all, to try and build the personal relationships with other world leaders that always matter so much in politics.
Think Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagen, Tony Blair and George Bush.
One former chief of staff to a prime minister told me that really these summits are about one thing – trying to get as close as you can to whoever the US president is.
But this is not a normal NATO… and American politics is not business as usual.
The whole summit has been overshadowed by the health of President Joe Biden.
So every interaction, every piece of body language will be poured over as usual – but not to see who’s getting closest to the president.
This time it's being scrutinised to see whether it looks like Joe Biden could pull out of the race for the White House.
George Clooney thinks he should - he wrote that open letter last night to say it was devastating to say it – but the president is no longer the Joe Biden of 2010, or even 2020.
The president himself says he’s not going anywhere, and his supporters point to his successful record in office.
But later on tonight Biden will hold a press conference with reporters – the kind of unscripted event that is seen as a big test.
And that got me thinking. If a news conference this evening is seen as a test for the president's fitness for office.
Well, that's not great if you're asking voters for a four year term.
Politics Hub With Sophy Ridge is live
Our weeknight politics showPolitics Hub With Sophy Ridgeis now live on Sky News.
The fast-paced programme dissects the inner workings of Westminster, with interviews, insights, and analysis - bringing you, the audience, into the corridors of power.
Tonight, Sophy is joined by new Health Secretary Wes Streeting, who has ordered a full and independent investigation into the state of the NHS.
She will also chat toAndrew Bowie, the Conservative MP for West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine.
On Sophy's panel are:
- Broadcaster Nick Ferrari;
- Lucy Rigby, Labour MP for Northampton North.
Watch live on Sky News, in the stream at the top of this page, and follow live updates here in the Politics Hub.
WatchPolitics Hub With Sophy Ridgefrom Monday to Thursday on Sky channel 501, Virgin channel 602, Freeview channel 233, on theSky News websiteandappor onYouTube.
