The Prime Minister’s spokesman has said he rejects Sir Olly Robbins’ assertion that Downing Street had had a “dismissive attitude” towards Lord Mandelson’s vetting clearance. Asked by reporters, the spokesperson said “No, I reject that characterisation”.

Sir Olly Robbins says he felt there was a “generally dismissive attitude” to Mandelson’s vetting from No 10 and the FCDO was “under constant pressure” to complete the process.

BREAK: The Prime Minister & President Macron will co-host a summit in Paris this Friday to discuss the Strait of Hormuz Downing St Spokesperson said: “The summit will advance work towards a coordinated, independent, multinational plan to safeguard international shipping once the conflict ends.”

The Defence Secretary has said three Russian submarines carried out a "covert" operation in the Atlantic lasting longer than a month. John Healey said he deployed a warship & aircraft in response to monitor the vessels. There is "no evidence" of any damage to UK infrastructure in the Atlantic.

Sir Keir Starmer has welcomed the ceasefire agreed overnight and announced that he is travelling to the Gulf today. The Prime Minister will meet “regional leaders” on his visit. He said the UK would “do all we can to support and sustain this ceasefire”.

Wireless Festival cancelled after government stops Kanye West entering UK

Wes Streeting tells BBC Breakfast Kanye West should not be allowed to perform at Wireless Festival and its organisers have committed a “terrible error of judgment”.

Downing Street has welcomed Donald Trump’s announcement. A Downing Street spokesperson said “any reports of productive talks are welcome. We have always said a swift resolution to the war is in the global interest and the Strait of Hormuz specifically needs to be re-opened”.

NEW: President Trump has said the US and Iran have had "very good and productive" talks in recent days "regarding a complete and total resolution of our hostilities". Trump says the US will "postpone any and all military strikes" on Iranian power plants for a five day period

The Prime Minister has said he is "asking for every lever that's available to the Government to deal with the cost of living to be discussed at Cobra" this afternoon. Sir Keir Starmer said his government is "doing everything we possibly can" to tackle the cost of living.

Labour MPs opposed to the government's immigration reforms are threatening to expose the party's divisions by forcing a symbolic vote in Parliament unless ministers back down. Story by Iain Watson

The first wave of files related to the appointment of Lord Mandelson as British Ambassador to the US will be published today We expect Chief Secretary to the PM to make a statement in the Commons after PMQs Further sets of files will be published - today is only the start

Sir Keir Starmer has warned the longer the Iran conflict lasts, the more likely it is that there will be an effect on the economy.

The BBC has been told the partner of a Labour MP has been arrested on suspicion of spying for China

President Trump has told reporters he is "not happy with the UK". Speaking in the Oval Office the President said: "This is not Winston Churchill that we're dealing with."

Responding to this, the Chief Secretary to the PM told BBC Breakfast: “Our relationship with the US is important, it has been for a long time and will be for a long time in the future.”

President Trump has told The Sun that Sir Keir Starmer has “not been helpful” in the US-Israel war on Iran. According to the paper, the US President praised other allied nations saying “France has been great. They’ve all been great. The UK has been much different from others”.

Sir Keir Starmer has told MPs that the government "does not believe in regime change from the skies", putting him at odds with President Trump over the joint US-Israeli strikes on Iran.

NEW: Refugee status in the UK will become temporary and will be reviewed every 30 months 🔹Refugee status will be renewed for those who still face danger in their home country. 🔹Those whose country has now become safe will be expected to return home.

The E3 Leaders have issued a joint statement calling on Iran “to stop these reckless attacks immediately”. The leaders said “We will take steps to defend our interests and those of our allies in the region, potentially through enabling necessary and proportionate defensive action”.

BREAK: UK to allow the US to take defensive action from British military bases Sir Keir Starmer made the announcement in a video posted on X.

A busy night producing BBC News live coverage of the Gorton & Denton by-election. And then a very quick trip to MediaCity to produce a piece with Jack Fenwick for BBC Breakfast

The Green Party have won their first ever Westminster by-election The Greens achieved a swing of over 26% to take the seat - Labour were pushed into third place behind Reform UK

UPDATE: The UK government has said there is “no pause” in its Chagos deal. This is despite a Foreign Office Minister’s comments in the Commons during an Urgent Question

A Foreign Office Minister has said the UK is "pausing" the process of confirming in law the deal to hand over control of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius while talks happen with the United States.

The Commons Speaker has confirmed he gave information about Lord Mandelson to the Metropolitan Police, after the peer's lawyers complained about the force's decision to arrest him on Monday.

Mandelson's lawyers say he was arrested over 'baseless' claim he was a flight risk

Lord Mandelson has been released on bail, pending further investigation. The BBC saw Lord Mandelson returning to his London home at 02:00 GMT.

BREAK: Lord Mandelson has been arrested “on suspicion of misconduct in public office”. A Met Police spokesperson said, a 72 year old man "was arrested at an address in Camden on Monday, 23 February and has been taken to a London police station for interview.

The first set of the “Mandelson Files” documents will be published in early March by the Government These are the files related to the appointment of Peter Mandelson as UK Ambassador to the US

Liberal Democrats will use their Opposition Day Debate tomorrow to discuss Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s former role as Trade Envoy The party say “we must be able to debate this fully without fear or favour, while not prejudicing the ongoing police investigation”.

Government to announce billions in SEND funding with overhaul due to be unveiled Follow live ⬇️

Tories vow to lower interest on some student loans Shadow Education Secretary - Laura Trott - said she would close 100,000 university places to alleviate debt and fund apprenticeships.

NEW: BBC understands Andrew Mountbatten Windsor has been arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office.

BBC EXCLUSIVE: Dame Antonia Romeo has been appointed as Cabinet Secretary - the UK's top civil servant (via @joepike.bsky.social)

FCDO spokesperson: “The deal to secure the joint UK-US military base on Diego Garcia military is crucial to the security of the UK and our key allies & to keeping the British people safe. The agreement we have reached is the only way to guarantee the long-term future of this vital military base”

BREAK: President Trump has said the UK is making “a big mistake” with its Chagos Islands deal The President has said on Truth Social: “DO NOT GIVE AWAY DIEGO GARCIA!”

NEW: The BBC has seen documents that show several people made allegations a decade ago about the conduct of Dame Antonia Romeo, the senior civil servant who is now frontrunner to become the Cabinet Secretary.

Nigel Farage has set out some of his senior team at Reform UK: 🔹 Richard Tice MP - Deputy Leader and Business, Trade & Energy Spokesman 🔹 Robert Jenrick MP - Treasury Spokesman 🔹 Zia Yusuf - Home Affairs Spokesman 🔹 Suella Braverman MP - Education & Skills and Equalities Spokeswoman

A MHCLG spokesperson said: “Following legal advice, the Government has withdrawn its original decision to postpone 30 local elections in May. “Providing certainty to councils about their local elections is now the most crucial thing and all local elections will now go ahead in May 2026.”

BREAK: The government has abandoned plans to delay 30 council elections following legal advice.

The Prime Minister has ordered the Cabinet Office to investigate claims that Labour Together commissioned a report to investigate the background of a journalist. The group paid APCO Worldwide £30k to "investigate the sourcing, funding and origins" of a Sunday Times story about the Think Tank.

Cabinet secretary frontrunner previously spoken to about management style 📲 Exclusive by Harry Farley ⬇️

NEW: The former SNP chief executive - Peter Murrell - is facing a charge of embezzling £459,000 from the party over a period of more than 12 years, it has emerged. He is accused of illicitly purchasing items including luxury goods, jewellery, cosmetics, two cars and a motorhome.

NEW: The High Court has ruled that the ban of Palestine Action under terrorism legislation is unlawful - but the ban remains in place for now

NEW: The UK's most senior civil servant, Sir Chris Wormald, is to stand down "by mutual agreement" with the Prime Minister He was appointed by Sir Keir Starmer in December 2024

PM says Lord Doyle [Matthew Doyle] did not give 'full account' over links to sex offender

The PM has said he 'will never walk away from the mandate' he was given by the electorate Sir Keir was making a speech in Hertfordshire where he vowed to keep fighting for working people.

NEW: PM told political cabinet “the whole of the Labour Party wants Anas Sarwar to become FM and will fight for a Labour government in Scotland”. It comes after Sarwar called for the PM to resign. The PM thanks political cabinet colleagues for their support and said “they were strong & united”.

Chris Mason: Labour sticks with Starmer for now but this is not over