Buckingham Palace Confirms King’s State Visit to US in April
The King’s state visit to the United States is confirmed to proceed next month as planned, Buckingham Palace announced. According to the Press Association, King Charles and Queen Camilla will undertake their long-anticipated historic trip to meet former President Donald Trump in late April, despite calls to postpone due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
This will mark King Charles’s first visit to the US as monarch and the first state visit by a British sovereign to America since Queen Elizabeth II’s 2007 tour. The royal couple will commemorate the 250th anniversary of American independence, attend a state dinner at the White House, and the King will address Congress. Specific dates and further details remain undisclosed.
On advice of His Majesty’s government, and at the invitation of the President of the United States, the king and queen will undertake a State Visit to the United States of America.
Their Majesties’ programme will celebrate the historic connections and the modern bilateral relationship between the United Kingdom and the United States, marking the 250th anniversary of American Independence.
Following the US visit, King Charles will continue to Bermuda for his first Royal Visit as Monarch to a British Overseas Territory.
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth Critiques UK Naval Role
During a press conference, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth echoed President Trump’s tone by making remarks about the UK’s naval capabilities. He stated:
I think the president was clear this morning in his Truth that there are countries around the world who ought to be prepared to step up on this critical waterway [the strait of Hormuz] as well …
Last time I checked, there was supposed to be a big, bad Royal Navy that could be prepared to do things like that as well.
Karl Turner’s Labour Whip Suspension Clarified
Reports have emerged regarding the suspension of Labour MP Karl Turner’s party whip. The Press Association reported that Turner, representing Kingston upon Hull East, was informed by Chief Whip Jonathan Reynolds of the suspension due to his recent conduct. However, Turner himself has stated he has not been officially notified of this action.
I am being told that I have had the whip suspended but I have not had any notification from the whips about this. It seems journalists have been told but I have not.
Sources indicate that the suspension is not related to Turner’s opposition to the government’s proposed jury reform or his criticism of Number 10 officials, but rather concerns his conduct online and interactions with other MPs. Turner has been a vocal critic of the jury reform proposals, drawing on his background as a barrister.
Turner also recently accused Morgan McSweeney, the Prime Minister’s former chief of staff, of falsely claiming his mobile phone was stolen last year. Further details on the suspension are awaited.
Reform UK Criticizes Plaid Cymru/Green Coalition Prospects in Wales
Dan Thomas, leader of Reform UK in Wales, criticized the potential coalition between Plaid Cymru and the Green Party in Cardiff, warning it would lead to Welsh independence and intensified "woke policies." Responding to the Green Party’s campaign launch, Thomas stated:
A Plaid/Green coalition of the unhinged would lead to Wales being torn out of the UK and woke policies on steroids.
Both Plaid Cymru and the Greens officially support Welsh independence, although Plaid has pledged not to pursue independence in its first term. At the Green event, Wales Green Party leader Anthony Slaughter affirmed the party would not promote a pro-independence agenda in this election.
Lib Dems Criticize Starmer Over King’s US Visit Amid Trump Insults
The Liberal Democrats have condemned Prime Minister Keir Starmer for allowing the King’s state visit to the US to proceed despite Donald Trump’s repeated derogatory remarks about the UK.
Lib Dem leader Ed Davey, who has advocated for cancelling the visit, said:
The prime minister is showing a staggering lack of backbone by pushing ahead with this state visit while Donald Trump treats our country with contempt.
To send the king on a state visit to the US after Trump dismissed our Royal Navy as ‘toys’ is a humiliation, and a sign of a government too weak to stand up to bullies.
What appalling thing does Trump have to do next to make the Government see sense and cancel the state visit?
Trump, whose mother was Scottish and who claims to be an anglophile, has recently criticized the UK for not fully supporting his stance on the Iran conflict, as well as other European and NATO allies.
Yvette Cooper Condemns Israeli Death Penalty Law
Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper criticized the Israeli parliament’s decision to pass legislation imposing the death penalty on Palestinians convicted of fatal attacks. Cooper, along with Germany, France, and Italy, issued a joint statement opposing the law prior to its final vote.
My statement with France, Germany and Italy on our united opposition to Israel’s death penalty law.
The death penalty is wrong and we oppose it around the world.
Greenpeace UK Critiques Reform UK’s Air Passenger Duty Proposal
Greenpeace UK has criticized Reform UK’s proposal to abolish air passenger duty. Lily-Rose Ellis, a climate campaigner for Greenpeace, commented:
As Trump’s war causes price spikes and flight cancellations, it won’t surprise anyone to see Farage rush to point the finger at taxes. This policy fits perfectly with Reform’s brand of rightwing populism, which seems surprisingly closely aligned to the commercial interests of their wealthy donors and the sleaze we saw from the last government.
Not only does Christopher Harborne, the UK’s biggest political donor who gave Reform £12m in the last financial year, sell aviation fuel, but Heathrow gave Reform £36,000 last year too.
The idea that this is the party that is going to take on the elites in defence of the common man is transparent nonsense, they’re the Tory plan B, with the same policies, the same scapegoats, the same rhetoric, the same donors and the same MPs.
Greens Could Be 'Kingmakers' in Senedd Election
Green Party leader Zack Polanski stated that the Greens could hold the balance of power in the Senedd following the upcoming election, potentially becoming “kingmakers.” Speaking at the launch of the Wales Green Party campaign, Polanski said:
The Greens could be the kingmakers at this election.
What does that mean? That means we know there will be a new government in Cardiff Bay.
What the colour of that government looks like, and the mix is ultimately up to the voters, but we’re being very clear – every single Green that is elected to the Senedd will be a Green in those negotiations.
A YouGov MRP poll predicts Plaid Cymru will be the largest party with 43 seats but will require support from either Labour (12 seats) or the Greens (10 seats) to form a majority of 49 seats. While Plaid is closer to the Greens on policy, it has previously supported Labour and may consider either coalition. Plaid has pledged “change” after 27 years of Labour-led government, and partnering with Labour could suggest continuity.
Anthony Slaughter, leader of the Greens in Wales, noted that Green MSs will influence the next Welsh government’s direction and that the party is already influencing Plaid Cymru’s policy positions.
Donald Trump Criticizes UK’s Iran Policy on Social Media
Donald Trump resumed his criticism of the UK and Prime Minister Keir Starmer regarding Britain’s policy on Iran. On his Truth Social platform, Trump posted that the British will “have to start learning how to fight for yourself” as the US will not provide assistance in the future.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting Seeks Deal to Avert Doctors’ Strike
Health Secretary Wes Streeting expressed optimism that a deal with the British Medical Association (BMA) to prevent a resident doctors’ strike in England remains possible. Responding on social media to the BMA’s reaction to the Prime Minister’s article on the strike, Streeting stated:
The BMA seems surprised that if they reject the deal on offer and go on strike their members don’t get what the Government is offering.
We have time before Easter weekend to resolve this dispute.
A deal on jobs and pay is on the table.
Nigel Farage on Trump, Youth Mobility Scheme, and Candidate Vetting
At a recent press conference, Nigel Farage addressed concerns about his association with Donald Trump, stating he admires some of Trump’s policies, particularly on border and energy issues, but disagrees with others. Farage emphasized:
He is not dictating policy to me. I’m dictating policy to me.
Farage also underscored the importance of strong UK-US relations.
Regarding the government’s youth mobility scheme negotiations with the EU, Farage opposed the proposals, arguing they would result in disproportionate European immigration to the UK and undermine Brexit. He said:
We are living in an age of increased global insecurity where national borders and protecting national interests matters more and more. And I think the youth mobility scheme falls at that first hurdle, if at nothing else.
And it’s just an attempt by the government to completely undo Brexit.
Farage also commented on Reform UK’s candidate vetting process amid controversies, defending the party’s procedures and acknowledging challenges faced by all parties in candidate selection. He stated:
We vet people. We ask them to tell us the truth. We asked them for their social media handles. We do all those things.
Sometimes people lie to you and they might be using social media handles that you have no way of finding.
I think we’re dealing with it as effectively, if not more effectively, than the others.
Farage praised Keir Starmer’s strong stance on the BMA doctors’ strike, noting it was unusual for the Labour leader.
