Now is not the time to turn our backs on the world but to face forward | Rachel Reeves

This week we witnessed the uncertainty of a changing world. Financial markets and nation states responding to the dawn of a new economic era and the reality of new barriers to trade. I am in no doubt that the imposition of tariffs will have a profound impact on the global economy and the economy at home.This change can be unsettling for families who are worried about the cost of living and businesses concerned about what it means for them. But our task as a government is not to be knocked off course or to take rash action which risks undermining people’s security

Parliament approves British Steel bill as sources say owners blocked from entering Scunthorpe plant – as it happened

The Steel Industry (Special Measures) has now passed through the House of Lords and is awaiting royal assent.After receiving royal assent, it will become law at midnightAfter a remarkable day, we’ll be closing this blog shortly. Here’s a summary of the day’s developments:Proposals to save British Steel’s Scunthorpe blast furnaces have been approved by Parliament after an extraordinary sitting on Saturday.Emergency legislation giving the government the power to instruct British Steel to keep the plant open passed both the Commons and Lords in a single day unopposed.The TUC has welcomed the move, describing it as “the right thing to do and it’s in the national interest”

Starmer aiming to ‘pass emergency legislation in one day’ to save British Steel – as it happened

The government will “pass emergency legislation in one day” to protect the British Steel plant in Scunthorpe, Starmer said.Speaking in Downing Street, the Prime Minister said:We will act with urgency. Now, we should be clear this situation and our response is unique.While it is true that we are facing a new era of global instability, our concerns about this plant and negotiations to protect it have been running for years.This moment could have happened at any time, but it has happened now, and I will not stand by

Labour MPs urge ministers to focus on rebuilding trading relationship with EU

Ministers should focus on rebuilding bridges with the EU, Labour politicians have said, after a senior adviser to Donald Trump downplayed the prospect of a breakthrough with the US.MPs said the government should “prioritise our trading relationship with the EU” and “get a sugar rush of growth” instead of banking on the prospect of preferential treatment from Washington.Trump imposed 10% tariffs on all UK exports this month, with several other markets, including the EU, facing steeper rates. After financial markets plummeted, the US president announced a temporary reprieve on Wednesday, reducing tariffs on almost all other countries to his baseline of 10%. Car, steel and aluminium imports continue to face a higher tariff of 25%

Rules of engagement for family rows over politics | Letters

Simon Usborne’s article made me reflect (The one change that worked: I quit fighting about politics with my friends and family, 7 April). Having been brought up to enjoy debate and argument, a good old “ding dong at dinner parties” was always fun. It wasn’t, however, lost on me that it could lead to frayed friendships, even if, in most circumstances, bridges were rebuilt. At work, winning the argument and driving change was all – regardless of the cost.More problematically though, as a “good parent”, who wanted to impart the skill of debate, ensure knowledge of the facts and set clear boundaries for my son, especially as he moved into his teens, I found myself easily triggered to defend a position or argue a point – calmly – thinking that I was helping in some way

Labour MP apologises for not declaring donation from firm he praised in Commons

A Labour MP has apologised and referred himself to the standards commissioner after promoting a company in the Commons without declaring it had given him a £10,000 donation.Steve Yemm, the Labour MP for Mansfield, spoke in a debate about construction standards last month and praised the electrical utility company Power Saving Solutions as “a company that is enabling reduced reliance on diesel-generated power on building sites”.Yemm cited Power Saving Solutions and the construction company JCB as “two great examples of private-sector firms enfranchising themselves in our mission to make Britain a clean energy superpower”.He had received a £10,000 donation from Power Saving Solutions in April last year but did not mention this in his speech. The MP’s code of conduct states: “Members must declare any relevant interests when speaking in the house