Keir Starmer flees to France amid Lord Mandelson chaos to address 'global responsibility' in Middle East

Sir Keir Starmer will be jetting off to France to address a "global responsibility" to open the Strait of Hormuz - while every other major party leader is calling for his head at home.

Last night, shortly before news of Sir Olly Robbins's Foreign Office exit emerged, Kemi Badenoch, Nigel Farage, Sir Ed Davey and Zack Polanski all demanded the PM resign.

"In these dangerous times, Britain cannot afford to have a Prime Minister who the country doesn't trust. Starmer has betrayed our national security. He should go," Mrs Badenoch warned.

But in Paris, Sir Keir will be co-hosting a "virtual meeting" of global leaders with Emmanuel Macron - before lunch with the French President.

Around 40 countries and the International Maritime Organisation are expected to dial in.

The Prime Minister is expected to tell the summit: "The unconditional and immediate reopening of the strait is a global responsibility, and we need to act to get global energy and trade flowing freely again.

"Emmanuel Macron and I are clear in our commitment to establish a multinational initiative to protect freedom of navigation.

"We must reassure commercial shipping and support mine clearance operations to ensure a return to global stability and security."

Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper, who also "lost confidence" in Sir Olly last night, will be joining too, alongside the Chief of the Defence Staff, Sir Richard Knighton.

Planning for a joint defensive mission is underway with a view to countries sending a combined military effort as soon as conditions allow, Downing Street has said.

FOLLOW BELOW FOR LIVE UPDATES THROUGHOUT THE DAY…

Conservatives offer damning assessment of Labour's handling of Lord Mandelson appointment

Top Conservatives came out swinging last night with a damning assessment of the scalps taken by the fallout over Lord Mandelson's appointment as ambassador to the US.

Frontbencher Alex Burghart said there would be "more to come" after the resignations of Lord Mandelson himself, Morgan McSweeney, Tim Allan and now Sir Olly Robbins.

Shadow Housing Secretary Sir James Cleverly then said it was clear that No10's strategy was to make Sir Olly the "scapegoat".

"There is ZERO chance that someone who’d just been appointed would risk their entire career by NOT telling the Foreign Secretary about the vetting," he added.

"Perhaps verbally rather than in writing, but he would have been told!"

Here's what's happening today in Westminster...

Good morning and happy Friday from all of us on the GB News Politics team. Here's what's happening today in Westminster and beyond...

It's 20 days to go until the local elections, with all 32 London Boroughs, Holyrood and Senedd up for grabs.

Last night's sacking of the Foreign Office’s most senior official, Olly Robbins, continues to cause shockwaves across Whitehall this morning.

The Prime Minister held several meetings with Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper in Downing Street throughout the evening before firing Mr Robbins over the phone.

This morning, Sir Keir's Chief Secretary Darren Jones has said it is "astonishing" and unacceptable the Foreign Office was able to overrule the vetting process for Lord Peter Mandelson and reiterated the Prime Minister is "furious."

Elsewhere, Rachel Reeves has confirmed she is planning to speed up drilling in the North Sea in a bid to soften the blow of the Iran war on energy bills. Our reporter Peter Stevens has the full story here.

Leaked Green Party plans have revealed Mr Polanski's party is planning to spend more on foreign aid than on defence in what rivals have branded as a "complete fantasy". Alice Tomlinson has the write up here.

Here on GB News, we'll be joined by Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Alex Burghart and Liberal Democrat Cabinet Office spokeswoman Lisa Smart.