Angela Rayner’s political future in balance with rule breach report due – UK politics live

Verdict expected today over whether she broke rules on ministerial standards when buying Hove flat

Rayner’s future in balance as lawyers say they did not offer tax advice

A minister has defended the prospect of UK government figures meeting Israeli president Isaac Herzog on his visit to Britain next week amid criticism from within Labour ranks.

The PA news agency reports that Douglas Alexander said the UK must engage with Israeli as well as Palestinian authorities as part of its diplomatic push to end the Gaza war.

I’m genuinely not sure in terms of what the schedule is. But I’d make a pretty basic point, first of all, diplomacy involves meeting people with whom you disagree and the British government has very strong views in terms of the present conduct of the government of Israel.

It is right that we are engaging with politicians from across the region, because the suffering is incalculable and it needs to stop.