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Tory leadership contest shows striking lack of focus on issues that cost party the election | Politics News

Four contenders and the biggest platform of the year to make their case to be leader of the opposition.

Welcome to the Conservatives’ annual conference in Birmingham – a four day job interview in the glare of the spotlight, with the axe falling on two of the four candidates in just 10 days when MPs vote to narrow them down again.

It is a conference like no other. Rishi Sunak is leader in name only and certainly not providing direction: this is the first Tory conference without a leader’s speech since 1963 – when Harold Macmillan was in hospital with suspected prostate cancer.

Politics live: Mood at Tory conference ‘like things aren’t quite so bad’

Yet it does not feel like a gathering of a party that just suffered an existential election defeat less than 100 days ago. This conference – with multiple overflow tents covering as big a footprint around the Birmingham conference centre than I can remember – shows none of the shrinkage often seen in some opposition conferences.

There’s a similar perhaps delusionally bullish vibe among MPs and defeated candidates, who are lapping up the short term tempest faced by Sir Keir Starmer’s government and display a belief the gap back to power may not be as big as they feared mere weeks ago.

Even the Conservative candidates suggest they think “one more heave” will be enough to return them to Downing Street rather than a massive radical top to bottom rethink, offering more continuity than change in the opening pitches of the conference this morning.

It will soon be for MPs, and eventually the membership to decide whether this is the right approach.

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One of the biggest challenges this week will be working out the substantive differences between the four candidates, who feel like they are trying to contain their difference to limited and specific areas like membership of the European Convention on Human Rights.

Getting the candidates’ responses on events unfolding in the Middle East on Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips was particularly instructive.

Asked by Trevor Phillips what they would be telling leaders in the Middle East if they were PM, Tom Tugendhat sidestepped talking about Israel, and instead directed his criticism at Iran, saying this was “no time for escalation”.

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Need to be ‘tough’ on Iran

James Cleverly took a middle course, defending Israel’s right to defend itself but proffering that Israel has “to abide by international law”.

Robert Jenrick said he was not “uncritical” of Israel but said it had been acting “reasonably” and taking the “necessary steps” to avoid casualties.

But the stand out answer – designed to grab attention – was that of Kemi Badenoch.

Following the assassination of Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah, which however justified worries other Tories it could push the region to the brink of war, Badenoch said if she was PM “I would be congratulating Prime Minister Netanyahu. I think what they did was extraordinary”.

“Israel is showing that it has moral clarity in dealing with its enemies and the enemies of the West as well,” she said. “Hezbollah is a terrorist organisation, and I think that being able to remove the leader of Hezbollah, as they did, will create more peace in the Middle East.”

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‘No opinion, without facts’

Grabbing attention. Giving crisp, stand out answers. Embracing provocation. Both on the most sensitive issue of the moment, but throughout her appearance this morning.

To distinguish from the men, she believes she can turn heads with an explosive remark, but then display the ability to deliver a more nuanced answer when pushed.

Take another seemingly abrasive remark: that she was struck by the number of recent immigrants in the UK who hate Israel. Phillips pushed whether she was in fact criticising Muslim immigration – a charge she denied citing her travels in Saudi Arabia. She wants to be seen going harder on topics others might be squeamish about.

“I will not stand there and let people punch me. If you swing at me, I will swing back. But I don’t look for fights,” she declared.

This is all a hard headed strategy designed to ensure she stays in the final two, gambling that she can be more memorable an opposition leader than the three men she is against. The question is whether this appeals, or reinforces the critics among MPs.

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‘I will swing back’

Rather than cutting rhetoric, Robert Jenrick is looking to consolidate his position as frontrunner among MPs by staking out positions on the right of the party.

He is the candidate, he suggests, who can stem the loss of support to Reform UK with his migration cap and insistence on the need to leave the European Convention on Human Rights.

His team are celebrating Badenoch’s nuancing of her line, having previously said she would not support withdrawal to now failing to rule it out.

But after an energetic start to the campaign, the question for Jenrick is whether having journeyed across the Conservative ideological spectrum, he is a big enough figure to command respect.

Sky’s questions about the ultimate source of funding for a sports company with no employees that gave him a donation of £75,000 will not have delighted his team, and his reluctance to name names of who was behind the firm was notable and could come back to haunt him.

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‘A perfectly valid and legal donation’

For Tugendhat, the challenge is convincing people of his credentials in domestic policy. He gives a convincing account of his overseas leadership, but pivots answers about domestic challenges back to his record.

Meanwhile, Cleverly has the opportunity to overtake Badenoch if, as he hopes, he can charm the conference in Birmingham.

But he needs to surprise and show he has the energy to succeed. Cautious answers about global challenges to Trevor Phillips ensured no blunders but he needs an exceptional week to turn this contest around. Calling for unity alone might not do it.

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The most striking thing about this contest to date is the lack of focus on issues that polls suggest cost the Tories the election – the economy, schools and the NHS.

Candidates are preferring to recreate the infighting of the government years in this contest – nothing yet that feels like a true clean break. Will that still be the case at the end of the week.

Starmer says ‘new approach’ to Europe begins at Blenheim Palace summit – with focus on Putin and people smuggling | Politics News

Sir Keir Starmer will pledge to “fire the starting gun” on a closer relationship with Europe as he hosts a major summit, set to focus on Ukraine and migration. 

The prime minister will welcome at least 45 European leaders to Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire for a meeting of the European Political Community (EPC), which was set up in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine two years ago.

All European countries – barring Russia and Belarus – are invited to the summit, intended to galvanise support for Ukraine, where fighting is expected to intensify over the summer.

Politics live: Starmer pledges ‘national renewal’ in King’s Speech

It comes just days after the attempt on Donald Trump’s life in the US appears to have transformed the race for the White House, and raised concerns about a Republican administration cutting financial support for Kyiv.

But the summit is also seen as a golden opportunity for the new government to discuss a European security pact, and easing burdens on trade with the EU – two of Sir Keir’s stated priorities which Downing Street said might otherwise have taken months.

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Ahead of the summit, the prime minister said the Europe-wide challenge of illegal migration and people smuggling gangs was one the UK would take a leading role in addressing – an issue Rishi Sunak had put high on the agenda at the summit’s previous meetings.

After scrapping the Conservatives’s plan to send failed asylum seekers to Rwanda, Sir Keir will announce the redeployment of 100 Home Office staff working on that policy to a new “rapid returns unit” to send those ineligible to be in the UK to their home countries.

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Sir Keir will say: “We cannot let the challenges of the recent past define our relationships of the future. That is why European security will be at the forefront of this government’s foreign and defence priorities, and why I am focused on seizing this moment to renew our relationship with Europe.

“The EPC will fire the starting gun on this government’s new approach to Europe, one that will not just benefit us now, but for generations to come, from dismantling the people smuggling webs trafficking people across Europe, to standing up to Putin’s barbaric actions in Ukraine and destabilising activity across Europe.

“My government was elected with a mandate for change. I asked the British people to judge me by my actions, not words. This meeting of European leaders is an opportunity to push on and begin delivering on the people’s priorities. We will only be able to secure our borders, drive economic growth and defend our democracies if we work together.”

Last week, announcing his priorities for the summit, Sir Keir said Europe cannot be “spectators in this chapter of history”.

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10,000 migrants arrive in UK in 2024

Blenheim Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is symbolic as the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill who, ministers will point out, stood up to tyranny in Europe. It was also used by MI5 during the Second World War.

This is the EPC’s fourth summit and arguably its most ambitious, with the leaders of NATO and the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe also attending.

King Charles and Queen Camilla will host a reception for European leaders in the afternoon.

Sir Keir spoke about his interest in securing a defence and security pact with the EU in Washington this month, although he stressed that NATO was “still the cornerstone of our defence in Europe”.

He has promised closer trade ties with the EU. In a sign of its importance, he has also created the post of minister for European relations, and given it to his ally Nick Thomas-Symonds.

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Starmer pledges Ukraine support during a NATO summit in Washington DC

Although no formal statement is expected at the end of the summit, several one-on-one meetings are planned.

On Wednesday night, Sir Keir met the Irish Taoiseach Simon Harris, and he will have dinner with Emmanuel Macron at Blenheim. He is also expected to meet with the prime minister of Poland.

Sir Keir’s focus on migration, just after announcing a Border Security Bill in the King’s Speech to tackle smuggling gangs, reflects the issue soaring up Europe’s agenda.

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The new Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said: “Criminal smuggling gangs are making millions out of small boat crossings and the Tories left us with gimmick rather than grip.

“We will work right across Europe to tackle this problem at source, going after those profiting from this awful trade and bringing them to justice.”

Rishi Sunak to demand end to ‘sick note culture’ and shift focus to ‘what people can do’ | Politics News

Rishi Sunak is to call for an end to the “sick note culture” in a major speech on welfare reform – as he warns against “over-medicalising the everyday challenges and worries of life”.

The prime minister wants to shift the focus to “what people can do with the right support in place, rather than what they can’t do”.

Mr Sunak also wants sick notes to be issued by “specialist work and health professionals” rather the GPs in order to reduce workloads.

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The plans, which the government is now set to consult on, come as part of the government’s aims to cut spending on benefits in a bid to reduce spending and increase employment.

Mr Sunak is set to say: “We should see it as a sign of progress that people can talk openly about mental health conditions in a way that only a few years ago would’ve been unthinkable, and I will never dismiss or downplay the illnesses people have.

“But just as it would be wrong to dismiss this growing trend, so it would be wrong merely to sit back and accept it because it’s too hard; or too controversial; or for fear of causing offence.

“Doing so, would let down many of the people our welfare system was designed to help.”

He will say there is a “growing body of evidence that good work can actually improve mental and physical health”.

“We need to be more ambitious about helping people back to work and more honest about the risk of over-medicalising the everyday challenges and worries of life,” Mr Sunak will add.

The prime minister will say, “we don’t just need to change the sick note, we need to change the sick note culture so the default becomes what work you can do – not what you can’t”.

“Building on the pilots we’ve already started we’re going to design a new system where people have easy and rapid access to specialised work and health support to help them back to work from the very first Fit Note conversation,” he will add.

“We’re also going to test shifting the responsibility for assessment from GPs and giving it to specialist work and health professionals who have the dedicated time to provide an objective assessment of someone’s ability to work and the tailored support they need to do so.”

It comes after Mel Stride, the work and pensions secretary, was criticised a month ago for suggesting in an interview that there was “a real risk” that “the normal ups and downs of human life” were being labelled as medical conditions which then held people back from working.

And upon launching the government’s “back to work plan”, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt warned that “anyone choosing to coast on the hard work of taxpayers will lose their benefits”.

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‘If you can work, you should work’

Since 2020, the number of people out of work due to long-term sickness has jumped drastically to a record high of 2.8 million people as of February this year, according to the latest estimates from the Office for National Statistics.

A large proportion of those report suffering from depression, bad nerves or anxiety.

The government said NHS data shows almost 11 million fit notes were issued last year – with 94% stating someone was “not fit for work”.

“A large proportion of these are repeat fit notes which are issued without any advice, resulting in a missed opportunity to help people get the appropriate support they may need to remain in work,” Downing Street said.

Fit notes are usually required by employers when someone takes more than seven days off work due to illness.

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Disability equality charity Scope has said it would question whether Mr Sunak’s announcements are being “driven by bringing costs down rather than how we support disabled people”.

James Taylor, director of strategy at the charity, said: “We’ve had decades of disabled people being let down by failing health and work assessments; and a broken welfare system designed to be far more stick than carrot.

“Much of the current record levels of inactivity are because our public services are crumbling, the quality of jobs is poor and the rate of poverty amongst disabled households is growing.”

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Alison McGovern, Labour’s acting shadow work and pensions secretary, said: “A healthy nation is critical to a healthy economy, but the Tories have completely failed on both.

“We’ve had 14 Tory years, five Tory prime ministers, seven Tory chancellors, and the result is a record number of people locked out of work because they are sick – at terrible cost to them, to business and to the taxpayer paying billions more in spiralling benefits bills.

“Today’s announcement proves that this failed government has run out of ideas, announcing the same minor alternation to fit notes that we’ve heard them try before. Meanwhile, Rishi Sunak’s £46bn unfunded tax plan to abolish national insurance risks crashing the economy once again.”

Health of European banks in focus as stocks plunge again over Credit Suisse and rate rise worries | Business News

Banking stocks are enduring fresh, steep losses on Wednesday as concern over the health of US banks crosses the Atlantic.

Credit Suisse shares plunged to new record lows following comments by its largest investor that it could not provide the Swiss bank with more financial assistance.

Switzerland’s second-largest bank, no stranger to crisis over the past few years, has seen concerns for its financial health come into sharper focus since the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank last week.

The attention of investors has mostly been on the ability of lenders to absorb the aggressive tightening of interest rates since last year, which has soured their bond holdings.

Adding to the selling mood was speculation that the European Central Bank (ECB) planned to raise its core deposit rate by 0.5 percentage points this Thursday.

A source close to the ECB Governing Council, the Reuters news agency reported, had said that the ECB was unlikely to ditch plans for a big rate move this week because that would damage its credibility.

Analysts backed that assessment.

Investors took to the hills, with the European banking index down by almost 6%, leaving it on course for €120bn of losses since the crisis of confidence began last week.

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Markets react to SVB collapse

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Credit Suisse shares were more than 20% lower.

In London, the FTSE 100 was trading 2.5% down by late morning, blow the level it had started 2023.

Financial stocks were again enduring the worst of the pain.

US equity futures were sharply lower.

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Silicon Valley Bank – what happened?

Attention, however, was firmly focused on Credit Suisse.

Its largest shareholder, Saudi National Bank (SNB), said it would not buy more shares on regulatory grounds as it would take its stake above 10%.

A string of scandals have undermined the confidence of its investors and clients, with Credit Suisse customer outflows in the fourth quarter rising to more than 110 billion Swiss francs (£100bn)

SNB said it was happy with Credit Suisse’s turnaround plan and did not think it would need more money.

That was despite its annual report for 2022, released earlier this week, admitting that “material weaknesses” in controls over financial reporting had been identified and customer outflows had not yet been stemmed.

Paula Yates: Life of late TV presenter to be focus of new documentary | UK News

The life of TV presenter and journalist Paula Yates will be the focus of a new two-part documentary.

The Channel 4 programme will centre on four “extraordinarily compelling” previously-unheard interviews with Yates, which were recorded in 1998 and 1999, shortly before she died of an accidental heroin overdose at the age of 41.

Yates was known for her presenting roles on The Tube and The Big Breakfast but she also attracted a lot of press attention as a result of her marriage to singer-songwriter Bob Geldof and her relationship with singer Michael Hutchence.

Head of specialist factual at Channel 4 Shaminder Nahal said: “Paula Yates exploded onto our screens in the very first week that Channel 4 came on air in 1982, a whirlwind of wit, verve and charisma – a totally unique style.

“Looking at what she achieved now, it feels like no one has ever quite matched her as a TV presenter.

“So as Channel 4 reflects on 40 years, it feels right to look at her life and career, and what an impact she made.

“As ever, (documentary producers) Curious Films has made a riveting and sensitive series that will, I hope, introduce Paula to a new generation.”

The documentary will also include testimonies from close friends and former colleagues of Yates’s, as well as footage from a number of other interviews and the programmes she presented.

‘A powerful lesson for today’s world’

Yates made her TV debut on Channel 4 on 5 November 1982 on music programme The Tube.

She went on to become a presenter of the channel’s breakfast show The Big Breakfast in 1992, where she became known for her On The Bed interviews, which included the likes of Kylie Minogue, Take That and Robin Williams.

Charlene Chika Osuagwu, producer at Curious Films, said: “Paula’s battle to ‘have it all’, torn between the duties of family life and her own personal career and happiness in the magnifying glare of a world determined to judge her, provide a powerful lesson for today’s world and women fighting the same issues 40 years later.”

It is understood that the documentary will air next month.

Yates married Geldof in 1986, and they had three daughters – Fifi, Peaches and Pixi.

Peaches Geldof also died of a heroin overdose at the age of 25 in 2014.

After their divorce in 1996, Yates went on to have a child, Tiger Lily, with Hutchence, the lead singer of Australian rock band INXS.

Rishi Sunak to attend COP27 – reversing decision to skip it to focus on economy | Politics News

Rishi Sunak has said he will go to COP27 in Egypt, in a reversal of his previous snub.

In a statement on Twitter, the prime minister said: “There is no long-term prosperity without action on climate change.

“There is no energy security without investing in renewables. That is why I will attend COP27 next week: to deliver on Glasgow’s legacy of building a secure and sustainable future.”

Pressure was growing on the PM after Boris Johnson confirmed to Sky News yesterday that he would be going to the climate summit.

Opposition parties were quick to mock Mr Sunak over his U-turn, which has been branded an “embarrassing mis-step on the world stage”.

Labour’s deputy leader, Angela Rayner said Mr Sunak had to be “dragged kicking and screaming into doing the right thing”.

Ed Miliband, the shadow climate secretary, said: “The prime minister has been shamed into going to COP27 by the torrent of disbelief that he would fail to turn up.

“He is going to avoid embarrassment not to provide leadership.”

The Liberal Democrat’s climate change spokesperson, Wera Hobhouse claimed the environment is “simply not a priority” for Mr Sunak’s new government and that his is.”only going after being embarrassed by Boris Johnson’s attendance”.

And Caroline Lucas, the Green Party’s only MP, said: “Glad to see Sunak’s screeching U-turn on COP27, but what an embarrassing mis-step on the world stage.

“Let this be a lesson to him – climate leadership matters.

“Now he urgently needs to increase UK ambition on emission reduction targets & pay what we owe to global climate funds.”

Mr Sunak initially said he was not going to head to the conference in Sharm El-Sheikh due to “other pressing domestic commitments”.

But the PM faced a raft of criticism, with Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer accusing him of displaying a “failure of leadership” and Greenpeace UK saying he was not taking climate change “seriously enough”.

Within days, Downing Street changed course, saying the PM’s attendance was “under review”, depending on progress around preparation for the economic statement, set for 17 November.

A No 10 source told Sky News that Mr Sunak and Chancellor Jeremy Hunt have made “good progress” on the autumn statement after working on it over the weekend and this week.

Others have welcomed Mr Sunak’s commitment to attend the summit.

Tory MP Alok Sharma, the president of COP26, said he is “delighted” by the news, after previously saying he was “disappointed” the PM had decided not to go.

Chris Skidmore, who is chairing the government’s review into Net Zero, tweeted: “Extremely good news @RishiSunak will continue to champion the UK’s climate leadership and @COP26 legacy with @AlokSharma_RDG.

“Looking forward to also attending@COP27P to highlight how the #NetZeroReview is an opportunity to better deliver greater prosperity and economic growth.”

West Brom women’s team switch from white shorts to navy to ‘focus on performance without added anxiety’ of periods | UK News

West Bromwich Albion’s women’s team will switch to navy shorts to get rid of the anxiety of having to wear white while on their period.

They will wear the new home kit for the rest of the season and beyond after consultation with the whole squad.

Captain Hannah George praised the club for supporting the change to darker coloured shorts.

“Representing the club professionally and looking smart in the kit is really important to us,” she said.

“This change will help us to focus on our performance without added concerns or anxiety.”

Albion play in the Northern Premier division of the FA Women’s National League, the third tier of the game.

Head coach Jenny Sugarman said it was important to make any change, no matter how small, to help her players perform at their best.

“I’m proud the club have supported the decision to switch to navy shorts for our female players,” she said.

“It’s another sign of the continued integration of the women’s team across the club and recognition of a progressive and inclusive culture.”

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The change comes after England’s Euro-winning team raised similar concerns over the colour of their own shorts.

Beth Mead said in July: “It is very nice to have an all-white kit but sometimes it’s not practical when it’s the time of the month. We have discussed it as a team and we have fed that back to Nike.”

There’s also been talk about the issue with regards to Wimbledon’s strict all-white kit policy, with a small group protesting outside the club ahead of the women’s final this year.

Former Olympic tennis champion Monica Puig has also tweeted about the “mental stress” of wearing white at the tournament and “praying not to have your period during those two weeks”.

Focus turns to Queen’s funeral as world leaders arrive, scaffolding is erected and rehearsals get under way | UK News

Preparations are well under way for the Queen’s state funeral with scaffolding being erected, world leaders arriving in London and rehearsals at Westminster Abbey and Windsor Castle.

As the lying in state continues in Westminster Hall, the queue of mourners waiting to see the monarch’s coffin is now expected to take around 22 hours from the back to the front.

Representatives from the Commonwealth nations have been invited to pay their respects, and heads of state from around the world are arriving throughout the weekend, both to attend the Queen’s funeral, and to sign a book of condolences.

A sign in Southwark Park in London, informing members of the public that the queue to view Queen Elizabeth II lying in state ahead of her funeral on Monday is 14 hours plus. Picture date: Friday September 16, 2022.

Meanwhile, King Charles will meet the chiefs of staff at Buckingham Palace before visiting police headquarters, where he will thank representatives from all the emergency services involved in the planning and delivery of the events during the mourning period.

He will also attend, with Camilla, the Queen Consort, a lunch for governors general – the people who represent the monarch in overseas realms – at the palace.

Man in custody after trying to rush Queen’s coffin, queues through a cold London night – all the latest, live

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The Queen’s children stand vigil for a final time ahead of her grandchildren’s tribute

Also on Saturday, the Queen’s grandchildren will take their turn standing in vigil around her coffin.

The Prince of Wales will stand at the head, the Duke of Sussex at the foot.

William will be flanked by his cousins Zara Tindall and Peter Philips – the children of the Princess Royal – while Harry will be with the Duke of York’s daughters Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie.

Peter Phillips, Zara Tindall and her husband Mike Tindall leave after attending the National Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul's Cathedral during the Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations in London, Britain, June 3, 2022. REUTERS/Dylan Martinez
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Peter Phillips (L), Zara Tindall and her husband Mike Tindall (2nd L) during the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations

The Earl of Wessex‘s children Lady Louise and Viscount Severn will stand near the middle.

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Watch live stream of the Queen lying in state

Forecasters say the sun is expected to shine on those waiting in the queue and those already securing the best spots for the funeral procession. After a cold start, Saturday should see long, sunny spells with maximum temperatures of 17C (62F), they predict.

London to Windsor route revealed where thousands can see Queen’s coffin on day of funeral

Queen Elizabeth II portrait

A London Fashion Week diversity fashion show will also take place in honour of the late Queen on Saturday. Models will carry a white lily in tribute.

Codenamed Operation London Bridge, arrangements for the Queen’s death have been carefully pored over for years, with the monarch herself overseeing and approving every detail before her passing.

However, the exact details were kept under wraps until the sitting sovereign, King Charles III, gave it his final seal of approval.

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What is a state funeral?

Monday’s funeral is at Westminster Abbey, one of London’s most recognisable landmarks and near the Palace of Westminster.

It has been the setting for every coronation since 1066, and was where the then-Princess Elizabeth married Prince Philip in 1947.

Watch and follow the Queen's funeral on TV, web and apps on Monday from 9am
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Watch and follow the Queen’s funeral on TV, web and apps on Monday from 9am