Good evening. Keir Starmer faced a brutal day in Parliament as he defended his handling of the Peter Mandelson vetting scandal, with opposition MPs calling for his resignation after it emerged officials withheld damaging security findings from him. The Prime Minister insisted it was a "deliberate decision" by civil servants not to brief him, but his attempts to shift blame onto officials only intensified criticism that he's scapegoating rather than taking responsibility. Meanwhile, the government announced that mobile phones will be banned in all English schools by law, with Education Secretary Jacqui Smith saying it creates a clear legal requirement that goes beyond current guidance.
The Iran crisis continues to escalate with Trump warning it's "highly unlikely" the current ceasefire will be extended without a breakthrough deal, even as his delegation prepares to head to Pakistan for peace talks with Tehran's participation still uncertain. Intelligence reports suggest Chinese satellite technology has significantly enhanced Iran's military capabilities, complicating any potential resolution. Back home, household confidence has plummeted to a three-year low as the war fuels economic uncertainty, while British Jews have reported alarming increases in antisemitic incidents including being spat at, threatened, and in some cases kidnapped.