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| Trump compares Brexit hard border fears to Mexico wall plan as he arrives in Ireland - live news | |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| This is what President Trump said when he spoke to reporters alongside Leo Varadkar, the Irish PM. | |
| We will be discussing various things. Probably you’ll ask me about Brexit because I just left some very good people who are very much involved with Brexit, as you know. And I think that will all work out very well, and also for you with your wall, your border. | |
| I mean, we have a border situation in the United States, and you have one over here. But I hear it’s going to work out very well ... | |
| It is an honour to be in Ireland with my friend, and he is doing a great job as your prime minister. | |
| Varadkar then explained that, actually, having a wall at the Irish border was precisely what he wanted to avoid. Trump accepted this. He went on: | |
| I think you do, I think you do. The way it works now is good, you want to try and to keep it that way. I know that’s a big point of contention with respect to Brexit. I’m sure it’s going to work out very well. I know they’re focused very heavily on it. | |
| In answer to a question about whether Brexit would be bad for Ireland, Trump said: | |
| I think it should be good. The big thing is going to be your border, and hopefully that’s going to work out, and I think it will work out. There are a lot of good minds thinking about how to do it. And it’s going to be just fine. I think ultimately it could even by very, very good for Ireland. But the border will work out. | |
| Here is a clip of President Trump talking to Leo Varadkar. | Here is a clip of President Trump talking to Leo Varadkar. |
| I will post the quotes in a moment. | I will post the quotes in a moment. |
| Donald Trump has compared the post-Brexit Irish border with his own planned wall for the US border with Mexico.Get the latest news and video here: https://t.co/iOm40vn1kt pic.twitter.com/ydzWv0UAS4 | Donald Trump has compared the post-Brexit Irish border with his own planned wall for the US border with Mexico.Get the latest news and video here: https://t.co/iOm40vn1kt pic.twitter.com/ydzWv0UAS4 |
| President Trump has arrived in Ireland where he is holding talks with Leo Varadkar, the taoiseach (prime minister) before heading off to his golf course. As the BBC’s Jayne McCormack reports, Trump claimed the border issue would not be a problem after Brexit. | President Trump has arrived in Ireland where he is holding talks with Leo Varadkar, the taoiseach (prime minister) before heading off to his golf course. As the BBC’s Jayne McCormack reports, Trump claimed the border issue would not be a problem after Brexit. |
| “We love the Irish - it’s an honour to be here,” says Donald Trump. He says the US “has a border situation too”. Leo Varadkar says Ireland wants to avoid a hard border with Brexit, President Trump replies that “we do too... the border will work out”. @BBCNewsNI pic.twitter.com/7zOmXk1neN | “We love the Irish - it’s an honour to be here,” says Donald Trump. He says the US “has a border situation too”. Leo Varadkar says Ireland wants to avoid a hard border with Brexit, President Trump replies that “we do too... the border will work out”. @BBCNewsNI pic.twitter.com/7zOmXk1neN |
| The Labour-run government in Wales is now officially committed to remaining in the EU. It used to favour a soft version of Brexit (which is still the position of the overall Labour party in London) but now it has concluded that the option is no longer obtainable, and it is campaigning for remain. Jeremy Miles, the Welsh government’s Brexit minister, made the announcement in the Welsh assembly yesterday afternoon (when many of us were focused on Donald Trump). He explained that the European elections, and the events in the Conservative party, where a new leader is likely to push for a no-deal Brexit, had persuaded the Welsh government to change its mind. He told AMs: | The Labour-run government in Wales is now officially committed to remaining in the EU. It used to favour a soft version of Brexit (which is still the position of the overall Labour party in London) but now it has concluded that the option is no longer obtainable, and it is campaigning for remain. Jeremy Miles, the Welsh government’s Brexit minister, made the announcement in the Welsh assembly yesterday afternoon (when many of us were focused on Donald Trump). He explained that the European elections, and the events in the Conservative party, where a new leader is likely to push for a no-deal Brexit, had persuaded the Welsh government to change its mind. He told AMs: |
| The negotiations between the government and the opposition have broken down, destroyed by the jockeying for prominence of would-be Conservative leaders, and we know that there is no appetite in the parliamentary Conservative party for a form of Brexit that we had consistently advocated, one that retains participation in the single market and a customs union. | The negotiations between the government and the opposition have broken down, destroyed by the jockeying for prominence of would-be Conservative leaders, and we know that there is no appetite in the parliamentary Conservative party for a form of Brexit that we had consistently advocated, one that retains participation in the single market and a customs union. |
| The prime minister is quitting and her deal is in tatters. It seems inevitable, given the bizarre process and the wholly unrepresentative electorate that will provide us with her successor, that in July we will have a prime minister who will demand, in a show of bravado, if nothing else, that the EU27 reopens negotiations of the withdrawal agreement. This will be rejected, and the government will set a course to a ‘no deal’ Brexit ... | The prime minister is quitting and her deal is in tatters. It seems inevitable, given the bizarre process and the wholly unrepresentative electorate that will provide us with her successor, that in July we will have a prime minister who will demand, in a show of bravado, if nothing else, that the EU27 reopens negotiations of the withdrawal agreement. This will be rejected, and the government will set a course to a ‘no deal’ Brexit ... |
| We sought to reconcile the result of the 2016 referendum with the least damaging kind of Brexit, but that effort has now reached the end of the road. | We sought to reconcile the result of the 2016 referendum with the least damaging kind of Brexit, but that effort has now reached the end of the road. |
| The European elections have shown that the electorate remains profoundly divided, and, indeed, the split has widened, with many of those who voted for Brexit in the 2016 referendum now supporting no deal, and many, probably a majority, wanting us to remain within the European Union. Faced by this sort of binary choice, we are clear that, almost three years on from the referendum, and more than two years after we put forward ‘Securing Wales’ Future’, we as a government must recognise these realities and change course ... | The European elections have shown that the electorate remains profoundly divided, and, indeed, the split has widened, with many of those who voted for Brexit in the 2016 referendum now supporting no deal, and many, probably a majority, wanting us to remain within the European Union. Faced by this sort of binary choice, we are clear that, almost three years on from the referendum, and more than two years after we put forward ‘Securing Wales’ Future’, we as a government must recognise these realities and change course ... |
| So, as a government, we will now campaign to remain in the EU. And to make that happen, parliament should now show the courage to admit it is deadlocked and legislate for a referendum, with ‘remain’ on the ballot paper. | So, as a government, we will now campaign to remain in the EU. And to make that happen, parliament should now show the courage to admit it is deadlocked and legislate for a referendum, with ‘remain’ on the ballot paper. |
| The Welsh government’s new stance has been welcomed by the Scottish government, which is also anti-Brexit. This is from Michael Russell, the Scottish Brexit minister. | The Welsh government’s new stance has been welcomed by the Scottish government, which is also anti-Brexit. This is from Michael Russell, the Scottish Brexit minister. |
| Very welcome statement from my colleague @wg_CounselGen. Scotland & Wales now officially against #Brexit & Northern Ireland likely to be when / if Assembly re-convened: Welsh Government will now campaign to remain in the European Union | Wales - ITV News https://t.co/pvE54nCZuf | Very welcome statement from my colleague @wg_CounselGen. Scotland & Wales now officially against #Brexit & Northern Ireland likely to be when / if Assembly re-convened: Welsh Government will now campaign to remain in the European Union | Wales - ITV News https://t.co/pvE54nCZuf |
| Under devolution the Welsh Labour party is free to divert from policy set in London, but nevertheless this development will encourage Labour MPs who want the national party to commit to supporting remain in a referendum. At the moment Jeremy Corbyn remains committed to getting a better version of Brexit, not to stopping it. | Under devolution the Welsh Labour party is free to divert from policy set in London, but nevertheless this development will encourage Labour MPs who want the national party to commit to supporting remain in a referendum. At the moment Jeremy Corbyn remains committed to getting a better version of Brexit, not to stopping it. |
| (Thanks to philipphilip99 in the comments for flagging this up.) | (Thanks to philipphilip99 in the comments for flagging this up.) |
| Jeremy Hunt, the foreign secretary, claims that, if elected Tory leader, he would be “the first prime minister to have been an entrepreneur”. He made the claim in a statement to the ConservativeHome website, responding to seven challenging questions it has set him. | Jeremy Hunt, the foreign secretary, claims that, if elected Tory leader, he would be “the first prime minister to have been an entrepreneur”. He made the claim in a statement to the ConservativeHome website, responding to seven challenging questions it has set him. |
| Here is the relevant question and answer. | Here is the relevant question and answer. |
| Q: There is a crisis of trust in the Tory party. And you are very much part of the party establishment – accomplished, long-serving, moderate, conventional. Are you the transformative leadership that the country needs right now? | Q: There is a crisis of trust in the Tory party. And you are very much part of the party establishment – accomplished, long-serving, moderate, conventional. Are you the transformative leadership that the country needs right now? |
| A: People often confuse continuity with loyalty. Throughout my nine years in cabinet, I’ve always been a loyal team player, but as the first prime minister to have been an entrepreneur, I would take a very different approach. This is an exceptionally serious moment for our country. I think many of our members, supporters and the public are looking for an experienced leader with entrepreneurial flair to help us get the deal we need and look beyond Brexit. | A: People often confuse continuity with loyalty. Throughout my nine years in cabinet, I’ve always been a loyal team player, but as the first prime minister to have been an entrepreneur, I would take a very different approach. This is an exceptionally serious moment for our country. I think many of our members, supporters and the public are looking for an experienced leader with entrepreneurial flair to help us get the deal we need and look beyond Brexit. |
| Hunt would certainly not be the first PM to have had a successful career – Stanley Baldwin and Neville Chamberlain both spring to mind – but Hunt’s claim may be true if you define entrepreneur as someone who has set up a successful business. | Hunt would certainly not be the first PM to have had a successful career – Stanley Baldwin and Neville Chamberlain both spring to mind – but Hunt’s claim may be true if you define entrepreneur as someone who has set up a successful business. |
| The ConservativeHome challenging questions for Tory leadership candidates are good. They have also come up with some for Boris Johnson and for Michael Gove, although so far neither Johnson nor Gove has replied. | The ConservativeHome challenging questions for Tory leadership candidates are good. They have also come up with some for Boris Johnson and for Michael Gove, although so far neither Johnson nor Gove has replied. |
| Steve Baker, the Tory Brexiter and deputy chair of the European Research Group, which is pushing for a harder Brexit, has published a new Brexit plan today. Called “A Clean Managed Brexit” (pdf), it is a new version of the standard Brexiter demand – an agreement with the EU without the backstop, with the UK resorting to no-deal if necessary, using “alternative arrangements” to avoid a hard border in Ireland. | Steve Baker, the Tory Brexiter and deputy chair of the European Research Group, which is pushing for a harder Brexit, has published a new Brexit plan today. Called “A Clean Managed Brexit” (pdf), it is a new version of the standard Brexiter demand – an agreement with the EU without the backstop, with the UK resorting to no-deal if necessary, using “alternative arrangements” to avoid a hard border in Ireland. |
| But Northern Ireland businesses and academics have dismissed the paper as “more of the same” in relation to its plans to guarantee an invisible border between the region and the Republic of Ireland post Brexit. Aodhán Connolly, head of the Northern Ireland Retail Consortium, said: “If it was homework I would give it an F minus.” | But Northern Ireland businesses and academics have dismissed the paper as “more of the same” in relation to its plans to guarantee an invisible border between the region and the Republic of Ireland post Brexit. Aodhán Connolly, head of the Northern Ireland Retail Consortium, said: “If it was homework I would give it an F minus.” |
| He said their report showed no proper solutions for the border and failed to provide any detail on key issues including health checks on animals which are mandatory and must be done on the border under EU laws. | He said their report showed no proper solutions for the border and failed to provide any detail on key issues including health checks on animals which are mandatory and must be done on the border under EU laws. |
| The EU has already indicated that milk from Northern Ireland could not cross over to the republic in a post-Brexit scenario unless there was a clear deal keeping regulations the same north and south of the border, something the DUP is implacably opposed to. | The EU has already indicated that milk from Northern Ireland could not cross over to the republic in a post-Brexit scenario unless there was a clear deal keeping regulations the same north and south of the border, something the DUP is implacably opposed to. |
| Rory Stewart, the international development secretary and a long-shot candidate for the Conservative party leadership, has said the Brexit policies being promoted by many of his rivals, such as Boris Johnson, would be “catastrophic” for the UK. His rivals were misleading voters, he claimed. Stewart is strongly opposed to a no-deal Brexit. But the Brexiters in the contest have said they would accept no deal and Johnson has said the UK must leave the EU by 31 October, with or without a deal. Stewart told the Emma Barnett Show on Radio 5 Live: | Rory Stewart, the international development secretary and a long-shot candidate for the Conservative party leadership, has said the Brexit policies being promoted by many of his rivals, such as Boris Johnson, would be “catastrophic” for the UK. His rivals were misleading voters, he claimed. Stewart is strongly opposed to a no-deal Brexit. But the Brexiters in the contest have said they would accept no deal and Johnson has said the UK must leave the EU by 31 October, with or without a deal. Stewart told the Emma Barnett Show on Radio 5 Live: |
| I’m afraid [other leadership candidates] are misleading themselves and others, and that’s going to be catastrophic, because the reality is that Europe is barely sitting through to the end of October. | I’m afraid [other leadership candidates] are misleading themselves and others, and that’s going to be catastrophic, because the reality is that Europe is barely sitting through to the end of October. |
| Let’s take a candidate like Boris. He’s saying that he’s going to go to Europe, and he’s going to negotiate a new deal before October 31, and if he doesn’t get a new deal by 31 October he’s going to go no deal. | Let’s take a candidate like Boris. He’s saying that he’s going to go to Europe, and he’s going to negotiate a new deal before October 31, and if he doesn’t get a new deal by 31 October he’s going to go no deal. |
| Anyone who knows anything about Europe can assure you there is not the slightest hope of getting a new deal through Europe by October 31. Not a hope. | Anyone who knows anything about Europe can assure you there is not the slightest hope of getting a new deal through Europe by October 31. Not a hope. |
| D-day veterans and world leaders have taken part in an emotional ceremony to mark the 75th anniversary of the Normandy landings, with a vast security operation safeguarding dignitaries including the Queen, Donald Trump and Theresa May. | D-day veterans and world leaders have taken part in an emotional ceremony to mark the 75th anniversary of the Normandy landings, with a vast security operation safeguarding dignitaries including the Queen, Donald Trump and Theresa May. |
| David Lidington, the Cabinet Office minister and May’s de facto deputy, has said the NHS “is not and will not be up for sale” in trade talks with the United States. Speaking at PMQs, in response to a question from Labour’s Rebecca Long-Bailey, who was standing in for Jeremy Corbyn (quite successfully – see 2.16pm), Lidington said: | David Lidington, the Cabinet Office minister and May’s de facto deputy, has said the NHS “is not and will not be up for sale” in trade talks with the United States. Speaking at PMQs, in response to a question from Labour’s Rebecca Long-Bailey, who was standing in for Jeremy Corbyn (quite successfully – see 2.16pm), Lidington said: |
| The prime minister has been very clear and she spoke for everyone in the Government and on this side of the House - when it comes to trade negotiations, the NHS is not and will not be up for sale. | The prime minister has been very clear and she spoke for everyone in the Government and on this side of the House - when it comes to trade negotiations, the NHS is not and will not be up for sale. |
| Yesterday, at a news conference, President Trump said the NHS would be on the table in any trade talks with the UK. But in an interview broadcast this morning, he retracted that, saying: | Yesterday, at a news conference, President Trump said the NHS would be on the table in any trade talks with the UK. But in an interview broadcast this morning, he retracted that, saying: |
| I don’t see [the NHS] being on the table. Somebody asked me a question today and I say everything is up for negotiation, because everything is. But that’s something I would not see as part of trade. That’s not trade. | I don’t see [the NHS] being on the table. Somebody asked me a question today and I say everything is up for negotiation, because everything is. But that’s something I would not see as part of trade. That’s not trade. |
| Many voters have a “distinct antipathy” towards Boris Johnson, which could hamper his chances of winning a future general election even if he delivered Brexit, the Conservative peer and polling expert Robert Hayward has said. | Many voters have a “distinct antipathy” towards Boris Johnson, which could hamper his chances of winning a future general election even if he delivered Brexit, the Conservative peer and polling expert Robert Hayward has said. |
| Channel 4 has announced it is holding a Tory leadership hustings on Sunday week. | Channel 4 has announced it is holding a Tory leadership hustings on Sunday week. |
| Debate fans - Channel 4 is to host the FIRST live Conservative leadership debate between the main candidates vying to become the next PM. Sunday 16th June. 18.30. 90 mins Channel 4. Presented by @krishgm Pls Rt - https://t.co/rGuNJwP4ZT | Debate fans - Channel 4 is to host the FIRST live Conservative leadership debate between the main candidates vying to become the next PM. Sunday 16th June. 18.30. 90 mins Channel 4. Presented by @krishgm Pls Rt - https://t.co/rGuNJwP4ZT |
| Steve Baker, the Tory Brexiter and deputy chair of the European Research Group, which represents Conservatives pushing for a harder Brexit, has said he will stand for the party leadership if colleagues ask him to. Asked about his intentions, he said: | Steve Baker, the Tory Brexiter and deputy chair of the European Research Group, which represents Conservatives pushing for a harder Brexit, has said he will stand for the party leadership if colleagues ask him to. Asked about his intentions, he said: |
| I am in the hands of my colleagues ... If we get to the opening and closing of nominations on Monday and we collectively agree there must be somebody willing to do this, then I would be willing to be the person who gets nominated. | I am in the hands of my colleagues ... If we get to the opening and closing of nominations on Monday and we collectively agree there must be somebody willing to do this, then I would be willing to be the person who gets nominated. |
| Nigel Farage has said his Brexit party will not join the far-right Europe of Nations and Freedom Group in the European parliament. The ENF includes various far-right parties from across Europe including Italy’s the League, France’s National Rally and Austria’s Freedom party. Farage said: | Nigel Farage has said his Brexit party will not join the far-right Europe of Nations and Freedom Group in the European parliament. The ENF includes various far-right parties from across Europe including Italy’s the League, France’s National Rally and Austria’s Freedom party. Farage said: |
| Following a brief social meeting with a member of the ENF Group last week there has been much speculation, fuelled by that individual, that the Brexit party will join them in their European parliament group. I can confirm that this is not the case and that the Brexit party will not be joining the ENF group. | Following a brief social meeting with a member of the ENF Group last week there has been much speculation, fuelled by that individual, that the Brexit party will join them in their European parliament group. I can confirm that this is not the case and that the Brexit party will not be joining the ENF group. |
| The Brexit party’s candidate in the Peterborough byelection has been criticised for profiteering from buying and selling freeholds of hundreds of new homes, it has emerged. | The Brexit party’s candidate in the Peterborough byelection has been criticised for profiteering from buying and selling freeholds of hundreds of new homes, it has emerged. |
| A one-woman show by the new Brexit party MEP Ann Widdecombe has been cancelled in protest at her apparent endorsement of gay conversion therapy. | A one-woman show by the new Brexit party MEP Ann Widdecombe has been cancelled in protest at her apparent endorsement of gay conversion therapy. |
| Women born in the 1950s whose retirement age was increased from 60 to 65 have gone to court seeking a judicial review of how the government raised the retirement age and to try to force the government to repay their lost pensions. | Women born in the 1950s whose retirement age was increased from 60 to 65 have gone to court seeking a judicial review of how the government raised the retirement age and to try to force the government to repay their lost pensions. |
| I was not covering PMQs as it happened because we were focusing on the D-day commemorations. That means I missed what colleagues tell me was a good PMQs debut by Rebecca Long-Bailey, the shadow business secretary, who was standing in for Jeremy Corbyn. | I was not covering PMQs as it happened because we were focusing on the D-day commemorations. That means I missed what colleagues tell me was a good PMQs debut by Rebecca Long-Bailey, the shadow business secretary, who was standing in for Jeremy Corbyn. |
| Normally Emily Thornberry, the shadow foreign secretary, leads for Labour at PMQs when Corbyn is not there. But this week Corbyn gave the job to Long-Bailey. The party has not said why, but there is a suspicion that Thornberry (who has leadership aspirations) angered Corbyn’s inner circle by pushing support for a second referendum after the European election results further than they would like. And Long-Bailey, a protege of John McDonnell, has for a while now been seen as the Corbynites’ preferred candidate in the leadership contest that will take place when Corbyn retires. Giving her the PMQs slot will raise her profile. | Normally Emily Thornberry, the shadow foreign secretary, leads for Labour at PMQs when Corbyn is not there. But this week Corbyn gave the job to Long-Bailey. The party has not said why, but there is a suspicion that Thornberry (who has leadership aspirations) angered Corbyn’s inner circle by pushing support for a second referendum after the European election results further than they would like. And Long-Bailey, a protege of John McDonnell, has for a while now been seen as the Corbynites’ preferred candidate in the leadership contest that will take place when Corbyn retires. Giving her the PMQs slot will raise her profile. |
| That would have backfired if she had done badly, but she didn’t. This is what some journalists are saying about her performance. | That would have backfired if she had done badly, but she didn’t. This is what some journalists are saying about her performance. |
| From my colleague Heather Stewart | From my colleague Heather Stewart |
| Long-Bailey did a nice job there: forensic in attacking government policy, but with a dash of vision, when she set out the case for Labour’s green industrial revolution. | Long-Bailey did a nice job there: forensic in attacking government policy, but with a dash of vision, when she set out the case for Labour’s green industrial revolution. |
| From the BBC’s Norman Smith | From the BBC’s Norman Smith |
| For a first outing at #PMQs thought Rebecca Long Bailey did pretty well. Why not have a "surprise" front bencher every week ? #justsaying | For a first outing at #PMQs thought Rebecca Long Bailey did pretty well. Why not have a "surprise" front bencher every week ? #justsaying |
| From my colleague Dan Sabbagh | From my colleague Dan Sabbagh |
| Impressive debut from @RLong_Bailey at PMQS, taking on David Lidington arguing that 'climate change is an existential threat' with full support from the party's press operation. Shows how concerned Labour is to shore up its green flank. https://t.co/dsjY4Pxh2q | Impressive debut from @RLong_Bailey at PMQS, taking on David Lidington arguing that 'climate change is an existential threat' with full support from the party's press operation. Shows how concerned Labour is to shore up its green flank. https://t.co/dsjY4Pxh2q |
| From the Daily Mirror’s Pippa Crerar | From the Daily Mirror’s Pippa Crerar |
| Good debut performance from Becky Long-Bailey at despatch box. It’s a tough gig and she was wise to go on safe territory of climate change - she’s strong on the detail and there are lots of points to score against the Tories. | Good debut performance from Becky Long-Bailey at despatch box. It’s a tough gig and she was wise to go on safe territory of climate change - she’s strong on the detail and there are lots of points to score against the Tories. |
| From the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg | From the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg |
| How did Rebecca Long Bailey perform at first time asking PMQs questions?"Decent job…maybe she made a smart choice by having her questions on her home turf” @bbclaurakPolitical editor says “better joust” than Corbyn-May exchanges#politicslive https://t.co/HUYYmORN7f pic.twitter.com/RBsSaJbxY4 | How did Rebecca Long Bailey perform at first time asking PMQs questions?"Decent job…maybe she made a smart choice by having her questions on her home turf” @bbclaurakPolitical editor says “better joust” than Corbyn-May exchanges#politicslive https://t.co/HUYYmORN7f pic.twitter.com/RBsSaJbxY4 |
| From the blogger Guido Fawkes (who never normally has anything positive to say about Labour MPs, especially Corbynites) | From the blogger Guido Fawkes (who never normally has anything positive to say about Labour MPs, especially Corbynites) |
| Solid performance from @RLong_Bailey at #PMQs | Solid performance from @RLong_Bailey at #PMQs |
| From CBS’s Mark Knoller | From CBS’s Mark Knoller |
| After the D-Day Anniversary event, Pres and Mrs Trump offered thanks and respencts to some D-Day veterans. They also offered their farewell to The Queen. "It was a great honor to be with you," @POTUS told her. "Great woman. "Great, great woman," he said of her to the press pool. | After the D-Day Anniversary event, Pres and Mrs Trump offered thanks and respencts to some D-Day veterans. They also offered their farewell to The Queen. "It was a great honor to be with you," @POTUS told her. "Great woman. "Great, great woman," he said of her to the press pool. |
| Nicola Sturgeon, Scotland’s first minister, has issued this statement about the D-day commemoration. She said: | Nicola Sturgeon, Scotland’s first minister, has issued this statement about the D-day commemoration. She said: |
| It is a great honour to represent the people of Scotland at the commemorations marking the 75th anniversary of the D-day landings. Scotland owes a great debt of gratitude to all those who served during the second world war, especially to those who made the ultimate sacrifice. | It is a great honour to represent the people of Scotland at the commemorations marking the 75th anniversary of the D-day landings. Scotland owes a great debt of gratitude to all those who served during the second world war, especially to those who made the ultimate sacrifice. |
| It is important that current and future generations continue to learn of the events that took place on this day 75 years ago, so that we can strive to ensure that such conflict is never repeated. It is also important the generations to come understand and recognise that it is the actions of those who served that allow us to enjoy the freedoms we now take for granted. | It is important that current and future generations continue to learn of the events that took place on this day 75 years ago, so that we can strive to ensure that such conflict is never repeated. It is also important the generations to come understand and recognise that it is the actions of those who served that allow us to enjoy the freedoms we now take for granted. |
| Here are some more pictures from the D-day event. | Here are some more pictures from the D-day event. |
| Theresa May is holding a series of bilateral meetings with world leaders at the D-day event. Downing Street said she had met her Polish counterpart, Mateusz Morawiecki, and was due to have talks with the French president, Emmanuel Macron, the Australian prime minister, Scott Morrison, and Canada’s Justin Trudeau. “The main theme of the talks today is about shared security,” a Downing Street spokeswoman said. | Theresa May is holding a series of bilateral meetings with world leaders at the D-day event. Downing Street said she had met her Polish counterpart, Mateusz Morawiecki, and was due to have talks with the French president, Emmanuel Macron, the Australian prime minister, Scott Morrison, and Canada’s Justin Trudeau. “The main theme of the talks today is about shared security,” a Downing Street spokeswoman said. |
| Here is the “family photo” for leaders attending the D-day commemorations. | Here is the “family photo” for leaders attending the D-day commemorations. |
| In the back row, from left to right: the Slovakian deputy prime minister, Richard Rasi; the Polish prime minister, Mateusz Morawiecki; the Canadian prime minister, Justin Trudeau; Luxembourg’s prime minister, Xavier Bettel; the Norwegian prime minister, Erna Solberg; the Belgian prime minister, Charles Michel; the Czech prime minister, Andrej Babis; the Australian prime minister, Scott Morrison; and the Danish ambassador to the UK, Lars Thuesen. | In the back row, from left to right: the Slovakian deputy prime minister, Richard Rasi; the Polish prime minister, Mateusz Morawiecki; the Canadian prime minister, Justin Trudeau; Luxembourg’s prime minister, Xavier Bettel; the Norwegian prime minister, Erna Solberg; the Belgian prime minister, Charles Michel; the Czech prime minister, Andrej Babis; the Australian prime minister, Scott Morrison; and the Danish ambassador to the UK, Lars Thuesen. |
| And in the front row, from left to right: New Zealand’s governor general, Patsy Reddy; the French president, Emmanuel Macron; Britain’s prime minister, Theresa May; Prince Charles; the Queen; the US president, Donald Trump; the Greek president, Prokopis Pavlopoulos; the German chancellor, Angela Merkel; and the Dutch prime minister, Mark Rutte. | And in the front row, from left to right: New Zealand’s governor general, Patsy Reddy; the French president, Emmanuel Macron; Britain’s prime minister, Theresa May; Prince Charles; the Queen; the US president, Donald Trump; the Greek president, Prokopis Pavlopoulos; the German chancellor, Angela Merkel; and the Dutch prime minister, Mark Rutte. |
| There were some reminders of historical details during the commemoration. | There were some reminders of historical details during the commemoration. |
| Many American troops were based in Portsmouth and other towns and cities across southern England.A letter home from Private Arthur Pranger of the 86th Chemical Mortar Battalion dated 6 May 1944 was read out: | Many American troops were based in Portsmouth and other towns and cities across southern England.A letter home from Private Arthur Pranger of the 86th Chemical Mortar Battalion dated 6 May 1944 was read out: |
| Dear Mom, | Dear Mom, |
| Somebody is always shoving a cup of tea in my fist. People even stop us on the street and invite us for tea and cake. The kids around here are always asking for chewing gum and candy. They can’t get that over here and everything is rationed. There’s hardly any automobiles here and everybody rides a bicycle. | Somebody is always shoving a cup of tea in my fist. People even stop us on the street and invite us for tea and cake. The kids around here are always asking for chewing gum and candy. They can’t get that over here and everything is rationed. There’s hardly any automobiles here and everybody rides a bicycle. |
| The chief of the defence staff, General Sir Nicholas Carter, paid tribute to the tactical ingenuity that lead to the success of the Normandy landings: | The chief of the defence staff, General Sir Nicholas Carter, paid tribute to the tactical ingenuity that lead to the success of the Normandy landings: |
| The marvellous range of technology that helped to make the landings succeed and ensured that over two million men and half a million vehicles could be landed in the ensuing months included amphibious and mine clearing tanks, Mulberry harbours, gliders, undersea pipelines, self-heating soup cans, air-portable motor-bikes – all reflected British ingenuity and innovation at its best. | The marvellous range of technology that helped to make the landings succeed and ensured that over two million men and half a million vehicles could be landed in the ensuing months included amphibious and mine clearing tanks, Mulberry harbours, gliders, undersea pipelines, self-heating soup cans, air-portable motor-bikes – all reflected British ingenuity and innovation at its best. |
| Flags from the 14 allied nations that took part in the Normandy Landings were displayed during the event. The flags are historically accurate for 1944 so in many instances were not the same as they appear today.For example, the French flag displayed was the Free French Flag. Another example was the Canadian flag, which only adopted a maple leaf in 1965.Music was provided by, among others, a 70-piece orchestra and a 90-strong choir. Hymn to the Fallen, composed by John Williams – the track that opens the film Saving Private Ryan – was played and the actor and singer Sheridan Smith performed the song made famous by Vera Lynn, We’ll Meet Again. | Flags from the 14 allied nations that took part in the Normandy Landings were displayed during the event. The flags are historically accurate for 1944 so in many instances were not the same as they appear today.For example, the French flag displayed was the Free French Flag. Another example was the Canadian flag, which only adopted a maple leaf in 1965.Music was provided by, among others, a 70-piece orchestra and a 90-strong choir. Hymn to the Fallen, composed by John Williams – the track that opens the film Saving Private Ryan – was played and the actor and singer Sheridan Smith performed the song made famous by Vera Lynn, We’ll Meet Again. |