Rishi Sunak disputes election claims as Number 10 refuses to blame China for MoD ‘hacking’ – UK Politics Live

Rishi Sunak said China has “fundamentally different values ​​to ours” amid reports that the Chinese government was behind a cyberattack on a database containing details of military personnel.

Mr Sunak, who visited Crystal Palace Football Club’s academy on Tuesday afternoon, told broadcasters that the government had set out a “very strong policy towards China”.

“They are a country with fundamentally different values ​​than us, and they act in a more authoritarian manner at home and in an assertive manner abroad,” Sunak said.

He added, “Recently, I announced a historic increase in defense spending to 2.5 percent of GDP. And we are facing an axis of authoritarian states including Russia, Iran, North Korea, and China. and that they pose a real risk to our values, our interests, and our country.”

Rachel Reeves was introduced by former Conservative MP Nick Boles ahead of today’s speech on the economy, saying the Labor shadow chancellor understood “the central paradox of managing the economy”.

The paradox, he said, is that “only by demonstrating the importance of discipline, responsibility and restraint can we gain the right and trust to make change.”

Mr Boles added: [Ms Reeves and Sir Keir Starmer] that stability in economic policy frees up investment; that Labor’s ambitions are realized by being demonstrated not only to markets and investors, but also to individuals, taxpayers and consumers; Understand that you are not going to act on it. money. “

Mr Balls left the Conservative Party in 2019 over Brexit, and in February it was revealed that he had become an informal adviser to Labour’s shadow cabinet on preparing for power.

While denying suggestions that the UK is headed for a hung parliament, the shadow chancellor said Labor would contest the economy at the next election.

In a speech in the City of London, Rachel Reeves said her party would use every day to “expose what the Conservative Party has done to our country” and insisted Britain had “turned the corner”. He accused the government of “gaslighting” the people.

She said: “Rather than believing the Prime Minister’s claims that we have turned a corner, the questions people will have going into the next election are simple.

“Do you and your family feel better off than after 14 years of Conservative government? Our schools, hospitals, police and transport systems work better than they did 14 years ago. Frankly, is anything working better in our country than it did when the Conservatives came to power 14 years ago?”

Train drivers are on strike again in a long-running dispute with the government.our travel correspondent Simon Calder Here are the details:

Defense Secretary Grant Shapps will update MPs on a cyberattack on a database containing details of military personnel, following reports that China was behind the hack.

david hughes This report provides more details.

A spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in the UK said: “China’s so-called cyber attack on the UK is a complete fabrication and malicious slander.”

“We strongly oppose such accusations. China has always resolutely countered all forms of cyber-attacks in accordance with the law.

“China does not encourage, support or condone cyber attacks. At the same time, we oppose the politicization of cybersecurity issues and baseless slander of other countries without factual evidence.

“China has always upheld the principle of non-interference in each other’s internal affairs. China has no interest or need to interfere in the internal affairs of the UK. We urge UK officials to stop spreading false information. , we call on you to stop fabricating the so-called China threat theory and end this anti-China political farce.”

Downing Street has announced that the government is investigating the work of a third-party contractor whose systems were hacked in a cyber attack on the Ministry of Defence.

Rishi Sunak’s official spokesperson said: “In relation to the specific contractor involved in this incident, an investigation into the safety of that contractor’s work is ongoing and appropriate action will then be taken.” Stated.

Downing Street refused to attribute the reported cyber attack on the Ministry of Defense to any particular nation state or attacker.

Asked whether China was responsible for the attack, Rishi Sunak’s official spokesperson said: “The Secretary of Defense will provide an update to Congress this afternoon.

“You will understand that I am clearly limited in what I can say until then, other than that the Ministry of Defense has already taken immediate action and isolating the affected networks and support personnel.

“We will not enter into further speculation about the source of the attack.”

Muslim campaign groups have issued 18 demands to Sir Keir Starmer in a bid to win back support lost by his stance on Israel’s war in Gaza.

Islamic Vote, which aims to organize voters against MPs who did not support a ceasefire in the conflict, is calling on Labor leaders to apologize for their earlier stance on Israel’s anti-Hamas movement.

He urged Sir Keir to cut military ties with Israel, allow Muslims to pray in schools and promise to return “Zionist money” to Labor Party officials.

our political correspondent archie mitchell Report:

Just one in five voters expects the Conservative Party to win the next general election, according to Redfield & Wilton’s latest poll.

By comparison, 63% of people thought Labor would win, the highest percentage ever recorded by the polling organization.

This situation is a complete reversal from the summer of 2021, before the Partygate scandal, when 55% of voters believed the Conservatives would win the next election, compared to 25% who thought Labor would win. It was less than

In the early days of Liz Truss’s tenure as prime minister, support between the two parties was tied at around 40%, but her disastrous mini-budget saw the Conservatives’ fortunes plummet, and Labour’s support slumped in response. rate has increased.