The FCDO has closed its international humanitarian law unit that monitored potential breaches by Israel, citing departmental cuts and restructuring. The move ends the UK’s only state-backed programme verifying incidents in the region and limits officials’ access to a major evidence database.

Cabinet tensions are rising over the PM’s handling of the Peter Mandelson scandal, with ministers warning against alienating the civil service after the dismissal of a senior official. Allies urge discipline, while others demand a rethink, leaving the PM increasingly isolated.

Keir Starmer is at odds with ex-senior official Olly Robbins over the vetting of Peter Mandelson for a senior post. Starmer says key concerns from checks were kept from him and now calls the appointment a mistake. Robbins, recently dismissed, is preparing to challenge this.