New post-Brexit border checks ‘set to zero’ to avoid what Defra calls risk of serious disruption The UK government has reportedly told port health authorities it will not “turn on” health and safety checks for EU imports as new post-Brexit border controls begin this month. A presentation prepared by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) highlighted the risk of “significant disruption” if the new measures were implemented, according to the Financial Times. It made clear that the systems would not be fully ready on time ..read more

Prime minister also seeks to assure allies Israel’s response to Iran will be measured, as officials urge him to focus on ceasefire deal Benjamin Netanyahu has told western diplomats that he will go ahead with a ground offensive on Rafah in southern Gaza, and has also suggested that Israel’s anticipated reprisal for Iran’s missile and drone salvo will be aimed at Iranian interests rather than Tehran’s proxies. The Israeli leader has sought to assure anxious allies that Israel’s response to Iran will be measured, while also claiming he will flood Gaza with aid and ensure that civilians and aid a ..read more

Minister says move being considered over concerns UK money could finance projects that undermine national security UK politics – latest updates Ministers are considering blocking British investors from funding emerging technologies in hostile countries if they believe the technology could pose a threat to UK security, the deputy prime minister has said. Oliver Dowden said on Thursday the government would consult on curbing British investment abroad, after becoming concerned that money from the UK could be used to finance projects that could undermine national security ..read more

Closer alignment between a Labour government and the EU is a certainty. But the divisive binary choices of 2016 are ancient history “Who do you think will lead the Labour government’s revolt on Europe?” asked my walking companion, steeped in politics, as we battled a cold morning headwind on a Chiltern hillside this week, the hedgerows around us suddenly in full leaf again and the chalkland remarkably dry after that pitiless early April rain, before he added: “And when will it come?” These are both good questions. But they are hard to answer in a fierce wind and going uphill. Back in the dry ..read more

How much should Britain get involved in the conflict in the Middle East? The Guardian’s John Harris is joined by the columnist Gaby Hinsliff and former national security adviser Peter Ricketts to talk about the fallout from Iran’s attack on Israel at the weekend. Plus, John talks to Gaby about smoking bans, NatCon and Liz Truss’s new book Archive: Sky News, BBC News ..read more

The opposition is right to recognise that a dangerous international climate demands closer security partnership with the EU For most of the period since the decision was taken to leave the EU, British politicians have overestimated how much thought the continent gives to Brexit. Once shock at the referendum result receded, relations with the UK came to be seen as a technical problem to be solved by hard-headed negotiation. At critical moments, when deadlines neared, Brexit leapt up the agenda. After the treaties were signed, they dropped right down, overtaken by the other issues facing a large ..read more

UK foreign secretary continues to urge Israel not to escalate tensions in wake of Iran’s mass drone attack Middle East crisis – live updates The British foreign minister, David Cameron, said it was clear Israel was “making a decision to act” in response to last weekend’s mass Iranian drone and ballistic missile attack. He added he hoped this would be carried out in a way that minimised escalation. He was speaking on Wednesday after meeting the Israeli president, Isaac Herzog, in Jerusalem, and is probably the first non-Israeli politician to admit some kind of Israeli military reprisal is ine ..read more

Lords also press ministers to allow independent Rwanda monitoring as deportation bill returns to Commons UK politics – latest updates Rishi Sunak’s government is considering concessions on the Rwanda deportation bill to allow exemptions for Afghans who served alongside UK forces, parliamentary sources say. Ministers are also being pressed to give ground to an amendment to the legislation so that the east African country could be ruled unsafe by a monitoring committee ..read more

The UK foreign secretary has said: 'It’s clear the Israelis are making a decision to act,' after Iran carried out an unprecedented missile and drone strike. David Cameron added that he 'hope they do so in a way that does as little to escalate this as possible' US to impose new sanctions against Iran after its air attack on Israel Middle East crisis live ..read more

Our guiding light will be progressive realism and an end to the reckless, gaffe-prone diplomacy of the Tory years Every time you look at social media, a new international crisis is unfolding. Drones from Iran or one of its proxies hurtling towards Israel. Another Israeli strike kills civilians in Gaza. A Ukrainian city faces a fresh wave of attacks from Putin’s war machine. The revelation of another cyber attack from a hostile state on UK soil. Another threat of a land grab in my ancestral home of Guyana. Another coup in the Sahel. A new flood, wildfire or hurricane – the latest manifestation ..read more