Facing a rebellion, Starmer blinks first and Reeves wipes away tears
Air of crisis looming over Westminster
I’ve been caught crying on TV a few times. If you spend your life on camera there’s a reasonable chance it will happen and frankly I’m surprised it doesn’t happen to more people more often.
But the image of Rachel Reeves in tears, for personal reasons we don’t know, became emblematic of a government in trouble.
Backing down on welfare was supposed to quell the rebellion but it didn’t.
While Keir Starmer tried to bat away Keme Badenoch’s criticism there was no getting away from the facts: in less than a year Downing Street has lost control of its massive majority, backbenchers feel emboldened to rebel, its series of U-turns make the centre seem unsure of itself and many people are wondering what this Labour administration really stands for and what the change it promised will be.
This week we have a new digital tool to help you.
Elsewhere, while much of the British media focused on the pro-Palestinian and anti-Israel chants at one of Glastonbury’s many stages and how the BBC handled it, there are some interesting questions about free speech and its limits explored in one of our Fourcast podcasts this week.
But largely we preferred to focus on the reality of the actual conflict in Gaza as it took new deadly twists.
Trump has a peace plan, but there were more killings in Gaza when Israel bombed a seaside cafe and we have a special report.
Here’s how the week so far has looked from Channel 4 News.
Waffling on Welfare
This has been the toughest test for Sir Keir Starmer. Just a year after securing a massive majority in parliament he faced a rebellion from his own backbench.
Proposed welfare cuts were supposed to save billions of pounds a year to make up for shortfalls left behind by the Conservatives, but now that’s all out the window as frustrated Labour MPs say the cuts went far too deep and the consequences much too large.
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Labour promised to balance the books and make big changes. So what will they actually achieve?
StarmerTracker
Are you also having trouble keeping track of what Prime Minister Keir Starmer has promised and how much of Labour’s bold plan has come to fruition so far?
Luckily we have the solution for you as Channel 4 News presents: StarmerTracker.
If you find yourself in a heated trivia debate over what Starmer has promised, use this handy tool and emerge as the most knowledgeable political wonk this side of Downing Street.
Palestinians suffer despite ceasefire proposal
Another week, another ceasefire plan coming from President Donald Trump’s social media feed.
But even as he says Israel has agreed to a 60-day stop in the fighting, the suffering in Gaza and the West Bank worsens.
The World Health Organisation managed to evacuate some children, all in urgent need of medical procedures, but with the health care system largely in ruins it's a tiny fraction of the number who desperately need to leave.
There are 10,000 patients, including 4,000 children, who need medical care which isn't available to them inside Gaza.
A strike on the al-Baqa Cafe in Gaza, a rare sanctuary of respite amid the devastating war, left dozens dead, including children, athletes and artists.
And sometimes hidden behind the shadow of the war in Gaza, the settler expansion in the occupied West Bank has accelerated at a rapid pace in recent weeks. Alex Thomson went to see one town, the site of horrific violence already this week.
‘You will die in prison’
It’s thought to be the UK’s longest cold case murder. And it’s finally been solved.
Louisa Dunne was found dead in 1967 and for nearly six decades her killer evaded capture - even though he served jail time for similar crimes afterwards.
Andy Davies shares the incredible story of how Ryland Headley was captured, as a judge tells him he will ‘die in prison’ in this extended news special on the case.
Diddy Do It?
Across the Atlantic, one of the most high-profile trials in entertainment history wrapped up in New York City, with a surprising result.
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs, facing charges including racketeering and sex trafficking, learned his fate in a stunning court case featuring baby oil, ‘freak-offs’ and a rare look inside the hallowed world of a music industry mogul.
Outside the courthouse, Kiran Moodley shares the mood as Diddy was acquitted of the most serious charges but could still face prison time.
Have you seen this on Channel 4 News?
Glastonbury dust-up
From Diddy to Kneecap and Bob Vylan, music stars had their fair share of the headlines.
Glastonbury, the UK’s - and arguably the world’s - most famous music festival was dominated with claims of hate speech as two acts voiced their outspoken support for Palestine.
Kneecap, with frontman Mo Chara facing terrorism-related charges, rocked the stage with their mix of Gaelic and English techno-tinged rap amid chants of ‘Free Palestine’ and choice words for Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
Before them, rap-punk duo Bob Vylan came under fire for leading the crowd in a chant of ‘death to the IDF’.
Both acts are now under investigation.
Where is the line between free speech and hate speech in the UK?
Conor McGregor for President?
Left-wing protests raise the ire at Glastonbury, as an MMA figure turned right-wing figure gains more popularity in Ireland.
But does Conor McGregor have any shot of adding another title to his mantle - that of President of Ireland?
Paraic O’Brien heads to Dublin to see if people really want the fighter battling for them, and tries to find the notorious man in the process.
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Do you not think there was a touch of misogyny in the way that the media focused on Reeves’ tears? There was a definite suggestion that “the poor woman can’t cope” in the reporting and the zooming in on her face.