Late Queen Was ‘Very Keen’ for Andrew to Take on Trade Envoy Role, Memo Reveals
The late Queen Elizabeth II was "very keen" for Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor to assume a "prominent role in the promotion of national interests," according to a senior official who communicated this to then-foreign secretary Robin Cook prior to Andrew's appointment as trade envoy in 2001. The Press Association reports:
In a memo addressed to Robin Cook dated 25 February 2000, then-chief executive of British Trade International Sir David Wright stated that Queen Elizabeth II’s "wish" was for Andrew, then the Duke of York, to take on the role.
Wright outlined that the role would involve some regional trips and two or three overseas visits annually, as well as leading trade missions occasionally.
He said: "Finally, we would want the Duke of York to be available to receive prominent trade visitors from overseas here in London and perhaps act as host at meals or receptions as appropriate."
The senior official noted that he "did not envisage that the Duke of York would want to be burdened with the regularity of meetings of the board of British Trade International or the burden of paper which goes along with the board membership."
He added: "We would nonetheless ensure that he was kept in touch with board developments and issues."
The memo was released today as part of a collection of files related to Andrew’s appointment to the post, which granted him access to senior government and business contacts worldwide.
The former duke faces allegations of sharing sensitive information with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein while serving as a special representative for trade and investment between 2001 and 2011.
The release follows a humble address tabled by the Liberal Democrats in parliament, calling for publication of papers on Andrew’s role, including any vetting and correspondence from disgraced former ambassador to the US Peter Mandelson.
The list of Commons written statements to be published includes one from the Department of Business and Trade titled "Return to the Humble Address on Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor."
Chris Osuh is a community affairs correspondent.
Youth Custody Rates Cut by Ministry of Justice-Funded Project, Research Finds
Youth custody rates were significantly reduced by a Ministry of Justice-funded project in which children awaiting trial were placed in residential settings, according to research from Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU).
This week, the government outlined plans including a commitment to reduce the use of custodial remand for children by 25%.
The research explored whether youth justice teams pooling their budgets could reduce the number of children held on secure remand and informs the government’s reform plans.
The project, led by MMU’s Centre for Crime and Youth Justice, enabled children to be placed in local authority accommodation—including a property designed to feel domestic but secure, staffed, and with access to support—instead of typical custodial settings.
The number of children on remand in Greater Manchester fell from a monthly peak of 18 in April 2024 to just one in January 2026, saving £3 million, researchers reported.
Prof Hannah Smithson, professor of criminology and youth justice at MMU’s Centre for Crime and Youth Justice, said:
"This groundbreaking pilot has shown the importance of effective alternatives to custodial remand for children, the majority of whom were not given custodial sentences after being held in custody on remand.
Our evaluation comes at an important time for youth justice and directly speaks to the proposals in the government’s new youth justice white paper. It demonstrates how a regional pooled funding approach, alongside small-scale, highly supervised residential settings, can support more equitable and child-centred youth justice practice."
Economists Question Wes Streeting’s Capital Gains Tax Plan Claiming £12bn Revenue
The Tax Justice UK campaign has welcomed Wes Streeting’s call to align capital gains tax (CGT) rates with income tax rates. Its executive director, Faiza Shaheen, stated:
"It is only right that wealth should be taxed at the same rate as work because at the moment, if you make your money from assets like shares or property, the system has been designed to give you a sweet deal compared to everyone else.
In a de-facto leadership contest where candidates need to win support, advocating for higher taxes on wealth is a win-win. It’s popular and it is a concrete way to build a fairer economy.
This also needs to extend to an annual wealth tax on the very richest that generates tens of billions of pounds to invest in affordable homes, cheaper bills and making the country work for everyone."
Alexandra Topping has reported on Streeting’s comments.
However, economists have expressed skepticism about the former health secretary’s proposal.
Helen Miller, director at the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS), commented on Twitter:
"@TheIFS we’ve long made case for wholesale CGT reform
Important: raising revenue & avoiding reducing investment requires reform of tax base.
Always good to see politicians picking up our ideas. You can read about the why & how of reform here https://ifs.org.uk/publications/capital-gains-tax-reform 2 notes:..
Simply raising rates would not raise big sums of revenue (it could easily lose money) and would reduce investment
It’s unclear to me what this would mean in practice; “reward genuine entrepreneurship, with lower CGT rates for those who take real risks building companies and creating job”
A key difficulty is that it’s very hard to know in advance who the ‘genuine entrepreneurs’ are."
Rupert Harrison, former chief of staff to George Osborne when he was chancellor, added:
"And yet every time a new Labour team gets into the Treasury and asks about this idea they will be told the data clearly shows it would actually result in lower tax revenues, and they won’t do it.
We are pretty much at the revenue maximising rates for capital gains tax.
And this isn’t because of avoidance schemes, it’s mainly just that people would defer selling assets or possibly move overseas."
To justify his claim that aligning capital gains tax with income tax could raise up to £12 billion a year, Streeting has cited various data sources.
Trade Minister Chris Bryant to Make Commons Statement on Andrew Trade Envoy Documents
In the Commons, an urgent question on costs for motorists has already been addressed. Chancellor Rachel Reeves is scheduled to give a statement later. Speaker Lindsay Hoyle appeared to grant the urgent question partly due to frustration that the government briefed the media yesterday about a change to mileage rules without informing MPs when announcing the extension of the fuel duty freeze.
Hoyle’s irritation may have been influenced by a Politico report this morning:
"Playbook hears that Reeves is expected to announce a rise in mileage rates (the 45p a mile that employers pay employees in expenses for using their car for business travel), which haven’t been lifted for 15 years. Key unions have been campaigning on that one for yonks, since social care workers are among those affected, and the Treasury launched a review in March. There is a conspicuously titled “transport taxation update” written statement due out later."
Alan Campbell, the leader of the Commons, is currently taking business questions.
After 12.15pm, three statements are scheduled: Reeves on the cost of living; Hamish Falconer, a Foreign Office minister, on the Middle East; and Chris Bryant, the trade minister, on the Andrew humble address documents.
Starmer Says Fall in Net Immigration Shows Government ‘Is Delivering’
Keir Starmer has posted on social media regarding immigration figures:
"Net migration has fallen 82%.
I promised to restore control to our borders. My government is delivering.
I know there’s more to do, we’re introducing a skills-based migration system that rewards contribution and ends our reliance on cheap overseas workers."
The Conservatives could argue the fall in net immigration largely results from policies introduced before the 2024 election. However, Chris Philp, the shadow home secretary, prefers to argue immigration remains too high.
The late Queen was "very keen" for Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor to take a "prominent role in the promotion of national interests," according to a memo from then-chief executive of British Trade International Sir David Wright to then-foreign secretary Robin Cook dated February 2000, as reported by the Press Association.
The government is publishing 11 documents today related to Mountbatten-Windsor’s appointment as a trade envoy.
Trade minister Chris Bryant has released a statement about the document release.
Latest Figures Suggest ‘Excessively Tough’ Labour Migration Policies No Longer Needed, Says Thinktank
The IPPR, a left-leaning thinktank, states that today’s immigration figures indicate the government need not proceed with plans to tighten legal migration rules.
Marley Morris, IPPR’s associate director for migration, trade and communities, said:
"Today’s figures show that migration has fallen sharply, while the asylum system is beginning to function more effectively after a period of strain. The government has made notable progress since the start of the year in closing asylum hotels.
This should prompt a more measured debate. An excessively tough approach now runs the risk of making policy for the pressures of three years ago, rather than the reality of today.
Public concern about migration has been driven by a sense that the system was not under control. The figures suggest that is changing, but there is still work to do.
The focus now should be on the parts of the system that still need fixing: tackling small boat crossings, closing remaining asylum hotels, and speeding up appeals. The priority should be to build a fair, well-managed immigration system that supports the economy and public services, not a race to push numbers ever lower."
Morris referred to proposals to significantly increase the waiting time for migrants to obtain indefinite leave to remain in the UK.
Number of Asylum Seekers Housed in Hotels Down 35% in March Year-on-Year
The Home Office published quarterly asylum figures this morning, showing that the number of asylum seekers temporarily housed in hotels was 20,885 at the end of March 2026, a 35% decrease from 32,326 the previous year, according to the Press Association.
"It is the lowest figure since data was first reported in 2022, Home Office figures show.
The total had climbed as high as 56,018 at the end of September 2023.
The Labour government has pledged to end the use of hotels for asylum seekers by the next election."
Tories Claim Net Immigration Still ‘Far Too High’ After ONS Figures Show Almost Halving in 2025
The Conservative Party asserts that non-EU immigration remains "far too high," according to Chris Philp, the shadow home secretary, responding to net immigration figures.
"Brits are leaving on a massive scale and non-EU immigration remains far too high. Mass immigration undermines our society and low wage immigration is bad for the economy. British families feel it in lower wages, longer waiting lists for public services and housing shortages.
Labour must go further and reform indefinite leave to remain before their hard-left flank forces them to abandon it altogether.
The next Conservative government will introduce a binding annual immigration cap at a very low level, close the loopholes that let temporary visa holders stay indefinitely and tighten and extend the conditions for ILR. We want a small number of highly skilled migrants and no low-skilled migration at all. But sadly, Labour do not have the backbone to do any of it."
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood stated the immigration figures demonstrate government progress on border controls:
"Net migration has fallen by 82% in just three years.
We will always welcome those who contribute to this country and wish to build a better life here. But we must restore order and control to our borders.
As these statistics show, real progress has been made, but there is still work to do. That is why I am introducing a skills-based migration system that rewards contribution and ends Britain’s reliance on cheap overseas workers."
The sharp fall in net immigration figures largely results from policies introduced by James Cleverly when he was home secretary in the Conservative government, and mostly maintained by Labour.
Reform UK and Tory Supporters Most Likely to Incorrectly Believe Net Immigration Has Risen, Report Finds
Despite net immigration falling for at least two years, many people mistakenly believe it has increased, according to new research from the British Future thinktank published before today’s ONS figures. Geneva Abdul reports.
A chart from the report shows Reform UK and Conservative party supporters are most likely to incorrectly think net immigration has been rising.
Net Immigration into UK Fell by Almost Half in 2025, Down to 171,000, ONS Reports
Net migration to the UK was estimated at 171,000 in the year to December 2025, a 48% decrease from 331,000 the previous year, according to Office for National Statistics (ONS) data. The Press Association states:
"It is the lowest figure since early 2021, when the post-Brexit immigration system was introduced and Covid-19 travel restrictions were still in place.
Net migration is the difference between the number of people moving long-term to the UK and the number of people leaving the country.
An estimated 813,000 people immigrated to the UK in the year to June while 642,000 emigrated.
The continued fall in net migration is being driven by fewer people from outside the EU arriving in the UK for work," the ONS said.
Desmond Swayne Tops List of MPs Selected to Introduce Private Members' Bills
Matthew England from the Hansard Society has compiled a list of 20 MPs who won the right to introduce private members' bills in a ballot held this morning, ordered by their position. Desmond Swayne leads the list. Although 20 MPs can introduce bills, only the top seven are considered priority, having the best chance of advancing legislation.
The top seven MPs are: Desmond Swayne (Conservative, New Forest West), Lauren Edwards (Labour, Rochester and Strood), Mike Wood (Conservative, Kingswinford and South Staffordshire), Andrew George (Liberal Democrats, St Ives), Luke Evans (Conservative, Hinckley and Bosworth), John Whittingdale (Conservative, Maldon), and Jessica Toale (Labour, Bournemouth West).
The remaining MPs are: Neil Shastri-Hurst (Conservative, Solihull West and Shirley), Gareth Snell (Labour, Stoke-on-Trent Central), Lincoln Jopp (Conservative, Spelthorne), Patricia Ferguson (Labour, Glasgow West), Robert Jenrick (Reform UK, Newark), Damian Hinds (Conservative, East Hampshire), Alistair Strathern (Labour, Hitchin), Clive Jones (Liberal Democrats, Wokingham), Victoria Atkins (Conservative, Louth and Horncastle), Munira Wilson (Liberal Democrats, Twickenham), Steff Aquarone (Liberal Democrats, North Norfolk), Paul Foster (Labour, South Ribble), and David Pinto-Duschinsky (Labour, Hendon).
Jessica Elgot reports:
"NEW - Two assisted dying supporters have come second and fourth in the private members bill ballot.
If they choose to take on the bill, it is possible it could still pass (but it is still very difficult)."
Schools Are ‘Pipeline’ to Joblessness for Many, Says Former Labour Adviser
Schools have become a "pipeline" to unemployment for a significant group of young people in the UK, according to an influential former Labour adviser who has called for urgent action to assist a "lost generation." Alexandra Topping and Richard Partington report.
Treasury Minister Lucy Rigby Says Wealth Is Already Taxed Properly as Wes Streeting Calls for ‘Wealth Tax That Works’
Good morning. Chancellor Rachel Reeves is preparing to announce measures to assist with the cost of living, aiming for a "Great British summer," including free bus travel for children, as reported by Heather Stewart, Peter Walker, and Sarah Butler.
Reeves is scheduled to speak after 11:30 am.
Meanwhile, Labour MP Wes Streeting, with ambitions to lead the economy, gave an interview to the BBC’s Nick Robinson for the Political Thinking podcast, elaborating on his policy agenda beyond his resignation speech in the Commons yesterday. As reported, Streeting proposed a "wealth tax that works," meaning aligning capital gains tax rates with income tax rates rather than a traditional wealth tax like the Green Party’s proposal. He suggested this could raise up to £12 billion annually.
Lucy Rigby, the new chief secretary to the Treasury, was interviewed this morning. Asked about Streeting’s proposal, she said she had not heard his interview but indicated that the chancellor was already taxing wealth:
"We already tax wealth in this country. The chancellor introduced a host of measures in her first budget, and then further measures in the last budget as well, that try and make sure that tax is as progressive and fair as possible."
Agenda for the Day
- 9:00 am: Nusrat Ghani, Commons deputy speaker, selects 20 MPs to bring forward private members' bills.
- 9:30 am: Office for National Statistics publishes UK long-term migration figures; Home Office publishes quarterly asylum figures.
- 9:30 am: Peter Kyle, business secretary, takes Commons questions.
- 10:30 am: Steve ...
