'We see you!' Defence Secretary lashes out at Vladimir Putin in emergency press conference after Russian warship sails through Channel

Defence Secretary John Healey has sent a warning to Vladimir Putin after a Russian warship was seen sailing through the Channel.

He told an emergency press conference the UK and allies monitored a Russian attack submarine and two spy submarines in the North Atlantic for a month before they retreated.

Mr Healey said: "To President Putin we say, we see you.

"We see your activity over our cables and our pipelines, and you should know that any attempt to damage them will not be tolerated and will have serious consequences."

He also thanked Norwegian allies for helping with the operation.

FOLLOW BELOW FOR LIVE UPDATES THROUGHOUT THE DAY…

John Healey issues warning to Vladimir Putin

John Healey has told a press conference to "call out Russian activity" as he sent a warning to the Kremlin.

The Defence Secretary said: "To President Putin we say, we see you.

"We see your activity and you should know that any attempt to damage our pipelines will not be tolerated and will have serious consequences."

Zack Polanski says Greens are the 'last line of defence' against Reform UK

Zack Polanski has slammed Reform UK as he suggested the Greens are the "last line" of defence against Nigel Farage's party.

Mr Polanski said: "People are rejecting the old party politics of Labour and Conservative but they can see the divisive, awful politics Reform is trying to bring to the country."

Zack Polanski insists Greens will not be 'complacent' in upcoming local elections

The Green Party leader Zack Polanski has said his party will not be "complacent" in the election as he suggested they were looking for a "record breaking" result.

Mr Polanski said: "In 2023, we had record breaking results as a Green party.

"We got over 241 new councillors. Now, 2023 was an election where double the number of seats were in play than there are at this election. Nevertheless, I am confident but not complacent in this election.

"We are going to beat 241 councillors and we are heading for a new record breaking result for the Green party."

Zack Polanski launching Green Party local election campaign

Green Party Zack Polanski has launched his party's local election campaign.

He called for Great Britain to end the "diplomatic trade privileges" with Israel as he called for Benjamin Netanyahu to "end the genocide".

Mr Polanski said: "It is outrageous that Israel are still enjoying diplomatic and trade privileges from the international community. As a Green party, we are calling on this government to make much more robust sanctions, to withdraw the UK-Israel trade agreement and to end the genocide.

"We know it’s not just Lebanon. We also see this going on in Iran. And the Prime Minister is not being entirely truthful with us all, with the country. He keeps saying that we are not involved with this war, but we still have UK soil and UK bases where US bombers are flying over to Iran.

"What we need to do is disentangle the UK military and the US military, ban the US from using our air spaces, and do exactly what other European allies like Pedro Sánchez in Spain have done and say, this war is not in our name and we want nothing to do with it."

The London Assembly member said he could "understand why people are looking for an alternative" to Labour as he said the Government has "watered down" its promises.

WATCH: Priti Patel says Keir Starmer's 'dithering' damaging UK's international reputation

Keir Starmer says Tehran must not 'hold the Strait of Hormuz to ransom'

Sir Keir Starmer told Gulf allies Iran must not "hold the Strait of Hormuz to ransom" in a regional defence call during a visit to the United Arab Emirates.

Chief of the Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton, and Commodore David Filtness attended from the UK along with defence representatives from the so-called dragon group made up of Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, Jordan, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Iraq and Egypt.

The Prime Minister set out that the UK has been constant in its position calling for de-escalation in the Iran conflict and that he wants to see the ceasefire become a lasting peace.

He reiterated that Iran "must not hold the Strait of Hormuz to ransom" and that nations will need to come together on a solution.

He also thanked the Gulf countries present for all they have done to protect UK nationals in the region.

Veteran Scottish Tory MSP issues warning against Reform UK

Veteran Tory MSP Liz Smith has warned that “extremist” Reform UK could replace the Conservatives as Holyrood’s opposition.

The politician, who is standing down after nearly 20 years at Holyrood, admitted her biggest regret was the decline of the Scottish Tories since Ruth Davidson’s leadership led the party to historic success.

Ahead of the May election, she admitted her colleagues had concerns over how the party would rebuild trust with voters.

But she denied her party had shifted to the right in the wake of Nigel Farage’s popularity and insisted they had not copied the language and behaviour of Reform UK, which she described as "extremist"

She said: "I don’t actually think that’s correct. I think the media likes to portray that as correct because they see that we’re having to fight Reform."

Yvette Cooper declines to comment on Russian warship reports

The Foreign Secretary said she would not comment on the details of military operations, following reports that Russia had sent a warship alongside an oil tanker through the channel.

Speaking on LBC, Yvette Cooper said: "What I can tell you is that we have given permission now for action to be taken against the Russian shadow fleet. Operational decisions then have to be taken in the right way by the military.

"There are indications of the way in which not just the Russian shadow fleet is operating, but also the way in which we are seeing increased Russian threats, not just to the UK, but across Europe as well.

"We will be saying more about this shortly."

Priti Patel says it would be 'preposterous' to start tolling the Strait of Hormuz

Shadow Foreign Secretary Dame Priti Patel has said the current situation in the Strait of Hormuz is "very very concerning"

She told GB News: "Let's not forget before the war, this was an international waterway, it is preposterous to think there is any suggestion of tolling the strait. That will have enormous consequences for every country in the world.

"We need to find a resolution."

She added the Prime Minister's visit to the UAE today is an "afterthought."

Senior Liberal Democrat blasts 'lack of clarity' over Middle East ceasefire

The President of the Liberal Democrats Josh Babarinde has said there is a "lack of clarity" over the conditions of the US ceasefire.

He told GB News: "We need to make sure this Government is putting pressure on the Middle East including the US to clarify exactly what falls under the ceasefire.

"As far as what the Liberal Democrats are concerned the ceasefire needs to apply on all sides. We need to take the heat out of this and get back to the negotiating table.

"This is a war that is punishing the people not just of the Middle East but people in the UK too."

Kemi Badenoch tears into Keir Starmer after Labour delays defence spending plan

Kemi Badenoch has said Sir Keir Starmer is "all mouth and no trousers" as she called for the long-delayed defence investment plan to be published next week.

Labour ministers had said the investment plan would be published last year, but have since refused to set out a timeline amid reports of a dispute between the Ministry of Defence and the Treasury.

Last month, Defence Secretary John Healey denied reports the Treasury was causing the delay, insisting Chancellor Rachel Reeves had already given the defence budget an additional £8billion.

The Tory leader, who on Saturday will speak at the London Defence Conference, said the failure to publish the plan was a scandal.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE.

Yvette Cooper 'deeply troubled' by Israeli strikes on Lebanon

The Foreign Secretary said she is “deeply troubled” by Israel’s strikes on Lebanon.

Speaking on Sky News, Yvette Cooper said: "I’m deeply troubled about the escalating attacks that we saw from Israel in Lebanon yesterday.

"We’ve seen the humanitarian consequences, the huge mass displacement of people in Lebanon."

Ms Cooper also said there is a "lot of work" that needs to be done to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and she would be meeting with the International Maritime Organisation later on Thursday about their proposal to get some of the first ships moving.

She also said it was "crucial" that Iran is not allowed to apply tolls in the strait.

Keir Starmer arrives in UAE

Sir Keir Starmer has arrived in the United Arab Emirates for talks on the Iran war as the ceasefire agreement comes under strain.

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

Good Morning from all of us on the GB News Politics team, here's what's happening today in Westminster and beyond.

Sir Keir Starmer is still in the Gulf as he said there was a "sense of real relief" at the ceasefire in the US-Iran conflict, however a lot of work still needed to be done to make the peace deal last and restore oil and gas supplies through the Strait of Hormuz.

Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper is set to tell a speech to City leaders later today that Lebanon must be included in the ceasefire agreement between the United States and Iran.

Addressing an event at the Mansion House, the Foreign Secretary will also warn there "must be no return to conflict" following the earlier announcement by President Donald Trump of a two-week pause in the conflict.

Meanwhile, Green Party leader Zack Polanski will be launching his party's local elections campaign in London alongside Hackney Mayoral Candidate Zoë Garbett and other local councillors.

He's expected to criticise "failing Labour councils" as he lays out the Greens' social housing plans, with his party eying up large gains in the capital.

Across the border, Rhun ap Iorwerth will be kicking off Plaid Cymru's election campaign as he promises a "more ambitious Wales" with his party leading in the polls in the Senedd.

Elsewhere, Liberal Democrat Leader Sir Ed Davey is in Greater Manchester, where he will be sewing school uniforms.