Sir Keir Starmer told Europe it has to be ready to “fight” Russian aggression as he announced that the UK would deploy warships and fighter jets to the Arctic later this year.
But even as the PM hailed what he said would be a demonstration of the transatlantic relationship, US secretary of state Marco Rubio warned the continent’s leaders over their ”malaise of hopelessness” and said that the US needed a partner with the “will to survive”.
It came as Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky hit out at the United States, saying his country was being asked to make concessions to Russia “too often” in US-brokered peace talks and that Europe was being sidelined.
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Keir Starmer announced that British warships are set to patrol the Arctic (AP)
During an eventful day at the summit:
Sir Keir rebuked President Trump, saying he should “be in no doubt – if called on, the UK would come to your aid today”
The PM said the UK should align more closely with the EU on the economy as well as on defence, and received a round of applause as he said: “We are not the Britain of the Brexit years any more”
He attacked Reform as “pro-Putin” as he said Nigel Farage’s party and the Greens were offering a future of “division and then capitulation” that would see the “the lamps go out across Europe once again”
Sir Keir denied that he had “narrowly missed” being toppled and said he had ended this week “much stronger than I started it, and that’s a very good place to be”
Addressing the event on Saturday morning, Sir Keir said leaders must not dither, because “Russia has proved its appetite for aggression”. He warned that, even if there were a peace deal for Ukraine, Russia’s rearmament “would only accelerate”.
“We must answer this threat in full,” he said. “The road ahead is straight and it is clear. We must build our hard power, because that is the currency of the age. We must be able to deter aggression, and yes, if necessary, we must be ready to fight.”
Announcing the planned deployment of the warships, the prime minister said that the US, Canada and other Nato allies would join Britain in bolstering security across what is known as the Nigh North.
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Mr Trump has claimed that Europe does not do enough to defend Greenland, which is strategically important to the US, amid threats from Russia and China.
Volodymyr Zelensky has warned that Europe is being sidelined in peace talks over Ukraine (EPA)
During his address, Sir Keir also hit out at Mr Trump’s claims that he is unsure whether other Nato allies would come to the US’s defence.
One of the alliance’s founding principles, Article 5, is that an attack on one Nato member is regarded as an attack on all. It has only been invoked once, after the 9/11 terror attacks in New York.
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“Be in no doubt, if called on, the UK would come to your aid today,” he told the US president.
As the world approaches the fourth anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine later this month, Sir Keir said the UK recognised the “urgency” of the need to establish closer defence ties with the EU.
In a move that will infuriate Brexiteers at home, he also said that Britain should move towards “deeper economic integration” with the EU, aiming to “move closer to the single market” in various sectors. He insisted his cabinet was in full agreement as he attempted to brush off the Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar’s bid last week to oust him from office, saying he had “ended the week much stronger than I started it”.
His speech came less than an hour after an address by Mr Rubio, who warned Europe that the US did not want to be caretakers of Western “decline”. The US secretary of state criticised countries he said had spent not enough on defence and too much on welfare, had appeased a climate “cult” to their own economic detriment, had allowed too much immigration, and had not defended their history, as he hit out at what he said was a “malaise of hopelessness and complacency”.
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But Mr Zelensky in turn attacked the US, saying: “The Americans often return to the topic of concessions, and too often those concessions are discussed only in the context of Ukraine, not Russia.”
Mr Zelensky said he hoped that the US would stay involved in the negotiations, and that there would be an opportunity for Europe to play a larger role.
“Europe is practically not present at the table. It’s a big mistake, to my mind,” he said.
York saw a brief period of sleet and snow in the early hours of today (February 15) before it quickly turned to rain.
Hilly parts of North Yorkshire saw a couple of inches of snow, making driving conditions difficult on some roads, such as the B6265 at Greenhow Hill, near Pateley Bridge, pictured here on a North Yorkshire Council webcam at just before 7.30 am.
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Slightly milder weather arrived by mid-morning, but BBC Weather has predicted there is set to be more sleet and snow tomorrow night and early on Tuesday, especially on the hills, with a possibility of further falls later in the week, including in York.
However, there currently seems little prospect of any return of the ‘Beast From The East’, which saw bitterly cold weather and heavy snowfall in York and North Yorkshire in late February 2018.
BBC Weather’s forecast for the period February 23 to March 1 says ‘there are no signs of notably cold weather at this stage and temperatures are more likely to be near or a little above average overall.’
There are now more Michelin-starred restaurants in the UK and Ireland than ever before – check our gadget to see how close you are to a fine dining destination.
Michelin revealed its latest guide at a ceremony in Dublin on Monday night, the first time the event has been held in the country.
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Ten restaurants retained their three Michelin star status, but no new names were added to the prestigious list, despite speculation that Ireland would get its first three-star restaurant.
There are now 230 upper-crust eateries that hold a Michelin star.
This includes two in Northern Ireland, 181 in England, 15 in Scotland, seven in Wales, 23 in the Republic of Ireland, and two in the Channel Islands.
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You can find out how close you are to your nearest Michelin-star restaurant using our interactive gadget below…
In the Michelin Guide Great Britain and Ireland, stars are given to restaurants and judged to be of a particularly high standard, with one, two, or three-star gradings being awarded.
Gwendal Poullennec, International Director of The MICHELIN Guides, commented: “I am delighted that this has been yet another excellent year for our Great Britain & Ireland Guide.
“In a year filled with challenges and turbulence in the industry, chefs and restaurateurs have once again shown their admirable resilience and innovation.
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“This is reflected in a record number of restaurants being added to the Great Britain & Ireland Guide this year.”
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One reviewer said it was ‘by far’ the best fish and chips they’d ever tried
One of the best comfort meals has to be a classic takeaway fish and chips. There’s nothing quite like a trip to the chippy – and we have some brilliant ones around.
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One chip shop just a short drive away from Cambridgeshire recently caught the eye of a TikTokker who said the food left him “flabbergasted”. Situated just outside Cambridgeshire is Bury St Edmunds, and here you can explore some utterly good finds for food spots, shops and things to do.
Alex Green, a food influencer with more than 920,000 followers on TikTok, recently visited the popular Hendo’s Fish and Chips which serves sustainable seafood and triple cooked chips along with lots of other choices.
The Hendo’s website boasts top quality ingredients, superior service and fantastically fresh fish. From the classic cod and chips, to battered halloumi, or plaice, this eatery truly offers a traditional menu.
In the caption of his video, Alex wrote: “Is this the best fish and chips shop in Bury St Edmund’s… Google definitely thinks so.” In the beginning of the video he said: “Are they incredible or are they forgettable?”
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The review began by highlighting the cleanliness of the premises, the kindness of the staff, and the prime location situated next to the Abbey Gardens. Alex ordered a large cod and chips with a pot of curry sauce on the side that totalled up to a whooping £17. But did it live up to the hype?
After showing the viewers the crunch of the chips, and displaying the golden colour, he delves into it and here’s what Alex said: “These are lovely, crisp, firm, have a lovely crunch and a great taste.”
After testing out the chips with the curry sauce dip test, he continued: “I can’t even get my words out, that’s how flabbergasted I am right now.” Moving on to the cod, he praised the crunchy batter and the “succulent and juicy” inside making for a “phenomenal spot” altogether.
Alex ends the video by saying that he didn’t expect it to be this good. TikTok users were quick to respond in the comments section. With one user saying “That curry sauce is amazing.”
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The chip shop has also received plenty of glowing reviews elsewhere, and one said “These folks truly know what great food should taste and look like! Honestly, this is by far the best fish and chips that I’ve ever tried.”
One more Google reviewer wrote: “I had the best fish and chips I’ve ever tasted! The batter was perfectly crispy, the fish was fresh and flaky, and the chips were cooked just right. The staff were absolutely lovely too. A fantastic experience all around.”
Emergency services were called to Durham Road in Farringdon, near the junction with Abercorn Road, on Saturday (February 14) following a crash just before 11pm.
It is understood a woman in her 50s had been crossing the road when she was struck by a vehicle, believed to be a dark coloured 4×4 heading east.
The driver involved has then driven away from the area, police said.
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Northumbria Police confirmed the woman was pronounced dead at the scene. Her next of kin have been informed and are being supported by specialist officers.
A section of Durham Road was closed to allow officers to carry out enquiries and the road has since been reopened.
Officers are now appealing for information and for the driver involved to come forward.
They are also keen to hear from anyone who may have dashcam or doorbell footage of Durham Road around the time of the incident.
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Sergeant Steven Chappell, of the force’s roads policing unit, said: “Firstly, I would like to express my deepest sympathies to the woman’s loved ones following this devastating incident.
“We will continue to support them in any way that we can – and look to get them the answers they deserve.
“A number of enquiries are underway to locate the driver and establish exactly what has happened in the moments leading up to the collision.
“As part of this, we are keen to hear from any motorists who were driving in the area at the time, and any further witnesses, especially those with CCTV or dashcam footage.”
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He added: “We know this is quite a busy stretch of road, with lots of people and vehicles in the area at the time, so please get in touch if you saw anything.
“There will be increased patrol activity in the area over the weekend, and anyone with concerns is encouraged to speak with an officer on duty.”
Anyone with information or footage should get in touch by sending Northumbria Police a direct message on social media, or by using live chat and report forms on the force’s website, or calling 101 quoting quote reference number: NP-20260214-1176.
Former minister Jim McMahon has urged the Government to order HMRC to finally update mileage rates to ‘show working people that they have a government on their side’
The self-assessment tax deadline passed last month, and HMRC will be busy checking that taxpayers have submitted accurate and timely tax returns.
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That’s fair enough. But it’s time the tax office took its own advice and updated its inaccurate mileage rates, which have been frozen for 15 years and are now firmly out of date. Over that time, the cost of living has soared. Food, energy, rent and mortgages are all up, and so is the cost of running a car. For millions of people who rely on their vehicle for work, these costs are unavoidable.
Since 2010, petrol prices have risen by 15%. Car insurance is up 56%. Road tax is up 39%, while repairs and maintenance are up 40%. But HMRC’s mileage rate has stood still at a direct cost to working people. This does not just affect the self-employed. It also hits employees who are reimbursed for mileage by their employer.
The very workers keeping our economy going are effectively paying to do their jobs, dragging real wages below the National Living Wage and deeper into the cost-of-living crisis. This is nothing short of a stealth tax on those doing the right thing and playing by the rules, sometimes leaving working people out of pocket by thousands of pounds.
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The Government knows this. Health unions have successfully secured fairer reimbursement for NHS staff like community midwives and occupational therapists, currently at 56p per mile, compared with the HMRC rate of 45p. They are rightly continuing to campaign for rates that reflect the real cost of running a car.
For workers outside the NHS, such as home care staff, the situation is even worse. Many earn at or just above the National Living Wage, yet they are reimbursed around a quarter less than NHS staff and around a third less than the true cost of driving.
Research by Unison and the RAC Foundation shows the real cost of driving for work is now closer to 67p a mile. HMRC says taxpayers can calculate their own costs, but nine in ten employers rely on the official rate, meaning millions lose out.
For 14 years, the Conservatives allowed this injustice to continue. Working people are not asking for special treatment, just fairness.
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Labour is the party of working people. That is why I’m calling for Government to instruct HMRC to finally refresh the mileage rate and show working people that they have a government on their side.
Majuba, on Station Road, announced on Saturday (February 15) that it had made the decision to close its doors.
The beach-style bar has been praised online for being a “lively little bar” with “amazing” staff and a “fantastic” atmosphere.
In a post online, the owners said they had “given it everything we had” and will “always be proud of what we built together”.
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The statement said: “This is one of the hardest things we’ve had to write. Majuba is now closed. Majuba was never just a bar. It was people.
“It was laughter across the room, dancing on a Saturday night, quiet chats at the bar, birthdays, live music and that feeling that summer never really left.
“We gave it everything we had. Every detail mattered. Every night mattered. But most of all, every single one of you mattered.
“Thank you for walking through the doors, for supporting us, for believing in the vision and for making it what it was.
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“We will always be proud of what we built together. Thank you for the memories.”
The reason behind the bar’s closure remains unknown at this time.
Betting giant William Hill has shut its Swinegate shop and called time on trading in York city centre.
The bookies has been emptied out, leaving behind only its fixtures, and a sign in the front window directs customers to their closest locations, which are in Burton Stone Lane and Acomb’s Front Street.
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It is not known exactly when or why the shop closed, however, when speaking to the Press Association last month, the betting giant confirmed in January that it had closed a number of stores across the UK after November’s budget.
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Evoke, the brand behind William Hill, said last year that changes to online gaming duties and a new online sports betting tax would see its duty costs rise by up to £135 million a year from 2027.
The inside of the shop (Image: Alice Kavanagh)
When approached by The Press to confirm Swinegate’s closure, a spokesperson for Evoke said: “In line with our retail optimisation strategy we have made the decision to close our William Hill shop in Swinegate.
“We would like to thank local customers and the community for playing with us, and hope to see them at one of our nearby stores – or online at WilliamHill.com – soon.”
Keir Starmer has been criticised for ranting about his domestic political rivals, the Greens and Reform UK, to European allies at an international summit.
Speaking at the Munich Security Conference, the prime minister alluded to the “peddlers of easy answers” who sit “on the extremes of left and right” in a bleak warning.
He said: “It’s striking that the different ends of the spectrum share so much. Soft on Russia. Weak on Nato. If not outright opposed. And determined to sacrifice the relationship we need on the altar of their ideology.”
He told his allies to “stand up and fight” for their values to avoid a future of “division and then capitulation”.
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Asked why the prime minister even mentioned his domestic political opponents at an international summit, foreign secretary Yvette Cooper said he was pointing to a wider issue about national security, which depends on international partnerships like Nato.
“We have seen both Reform and the Greens undermine that commitment to the Nato alliance,” she said. “I think that is hugely important because I think our national security comes first.”
Phillips asked what Reform’s leader Nigel Farage said or done to undermine Nato, to which she said: “We’ve seen Reform have not taken seriously the threat from Russia.
“They have refused and failed to do an investigation into Russian interference within their own party, despite the fact that their Welsh leader [Nathan Gill] was convicted of the links to Russia.
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“They have too often dismissed the threat from Russia, even at a time when we see lethal poisons being used once again just as we saw in Salisbury.
“I do take that extremely seriously and I think it is a problem that Reform don’t.”
Phillips said there was another way to read the prime minister’s comments, calling it “a signal to our allies how rattled he is that he has to go to Munich to complain about domestic political opponents, Reform and the Greens.”
He added: “The message to our allies is that this guy is on his way out and there’s no point doing deals with him or with you.”
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Cooper rejected that characterisation, saying: “The partnership Keir has built with other leaders, the work we are doing together is immensely important.”
Reform’s head of policy Zia Yusuf also rejected Starmer and Cooper’s claims about his party’s approach to Russia.
He told Sky News: “That is obviously not true. Nigel is the only political leader who has confirmed on air that he would indeed shoot down Russian aircrafts if they were in Nato airspace.
“Not a single other political leader, nor has Keir Starmer. We are crystal clear at Reform – this is a new era, and we totally agree that there’s a new world order that is emerging right now.”
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Green Party leader Zack Polanski also told Sky that Starmer’s speech was “not 100 miles away from what I’ve been saying for months now, which is that we need a closer relationship with Europe”.
“It’s quite bizarre to hear him repeating a lot of things I’ve been saying and making an attack on me at the same time,” he said.
While Polanski has previously called the Nato policy “out of date” because of Donald Trump’s involvement, he insisted the Greens would commit to defending a Nato country against an attack “if we’re in Nato as we are”.
‘We have seen both Reform and the Greens undermine that commitment to the NATO alliance.’
Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper defends Sir Keir Starmer after he told world leaders to beware of Reform UK and the Green Party at the Munich Security Conference.https://t.co/0844es4iQ0pic.twitter.com/2TCKdjfAU3
The prime minister warned that the split with the EU had left the UK unable to use its influence internationally.
In an interview after the worst week of his tenure in No 10, he added: “We are not reversing Brexit but we are turning our back on the Britain of the Brexit years that we’ve had for the last decade.
“That has seen a Britain that has turned inward, a Britain that has not been able to assert itself and influence others on the world stage or the European stage.”
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Sir Keir Starmer said he intended to change the country (Stefan Rousseau/PA) (PA Wire)
Sir Keir has faced calls to resign as the controversy has rocked Downing Street.
But, speaking to the Sun on Sunday at the Munich Security Conference, he came out fighting against suggestions he should quit.
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He said: “I won the leadership of the Labour Party when people said I wouldn’t. I changed the Labour Party when people said I couldn’t. I won an election when people said we wouldn’t.
“And now I intend to change the country – whatever other people say.”
Sir Keir also insisted he would “absolutely” lead the Labour party into the next election. He said he would not list his mistakes “in rank order” but appointing Lord Mandelson was one of them.
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Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar launched an unsuccessful attempt to unseat Sir Keir Starmer after the Lord Mandelson scandal (Lesley Martin/PA) (PA Wire)
Speaking at the conference, Sir Keir had earlier insisted he “ended the week much stronger” than he started it after a period of political turbulence.
He also said the UK should more closely align with the EU economically as well as on defence.
He argued the UK should “move closer to the single market” in certain markets, where it was in the interest of both sides, just months before the tenth anniversary of the Brexit referendum result which ultimately took the Britain out of the EU.
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Three members of Sir Keir’s team have resigned (POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar had said on Monday that the prime minister should quit in the wake of the scandal around Lord Mandelson’s links to the paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
But the attempt to oust Sir Keir failed, with members of the cabinet publicly backing the PM in the hours after Mr Sarwar’s statement.
But fresh questions about Sir Keir’s judgment emerged later in the week in a row over the appointment of his former spin doctor Lord Doyle to the House of Lords – after the aide hit the headlines for campaigning for a paedophile councillor.
The departure of the head of the civil service Sir Chris Wormald also prompted criticism of negative briefings in Government, while senior Labour women suggested the string of scandals had exposed a “boys’ club” within Downing Street.
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Sir Chris was the third senior figure to quit the Government in the past week, following Sir Keir’s chief of staff Morgan McSweeney and communications director Tim Allan.
Former pop legend Martin Kemp revealed an emergency that meant he had to be rescued by the emergency services just before a DJ gig in Falkirk
11:11, 15 Feb 2026Updated 11:11, 15 Feb 2026
Martin Kemp was involved in an emergency rescue just moments before he was set to entertain a big crowd. The former EastEnders star and 80s pop legend was getting ready for his latest gig when he found himself stranded in a lift.
The 64-year-old star shared his stricken state on an Instagram post, saying he had been stuck for an hour before being rescued by emergency services. He found himself holed up in the small space before his performance in Falkirk.
Thankfully, Martin seemed to see the funny side of it and shared a snap with the fire brigade on his Instagram. They were all seen cheering and giving the thumbs up at the successful evacuation.
Alongside his post, Martin wrote: “Stuck in a lift for an hour!! Before tonight’s gig at City Falkirk… but I still had fun. Thank you so much Falkirk Fire Brigade for rescuing all of us!!!!”
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It comes as Martin continues his UK tour as he plays DJ to some of his favourite tunes. A day earlier, he had entertained crowds in North Shields, near Newcastle.
He is also set to embark on a tour of Ireland with his son Roman in a brand new TV series. The father-and-son duo are ready to hit the roads of the Emerald Isle to explore their heritage.
It was revealed in December the pair had signed a deal with Channel 4 following their success on Celebrity Gogglebox. And Martin’s TV stock rose further after his appearance on ITV’s I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! this year, alongside the likes of Aitch, Shona McGarty, Jack Osbourne and AngryGinge.
Roman’s TV credentials, meanwhile, are also increasing. Following a successful stint on Capital FM’s Breakfast Show on the radio, he has impressed on The One Show. And now he also fronts a segment on Sky Sports talking about football.
And he also recently won Race Across The World with his sister Harleymoon. The duo embarked on a 33-day, 5,900km (3,600-mile) journey across Central America, armed with a budget of just £950 per person and without mobile phone.
But now, the dad and son will hit the screens as a duo again. “We’re used to seeing Martin and Roman on TV together, whether it’s on adverts or on Celebrity Gogglebox,” a source told The Sun at the end of the year.
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“But this will be a real departure for the Kemps to be hitting the road together with their first full, standalone series for Channel 4.
“Particularly as these days Roman is more closely associated with The One Show on the BBC.” The programme, which is said to be called Kemps in Ireland, is being made by Rock Oyster Media, who are the creators behind shows including Taste of Ireland with Dermot O’Leary.
![BITCOIN WILL CRASH AGAIN!!! [watch within 24 hours]](https://wordupnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/1771158307_maxresdefault-80x80.jpg)
![Heathrow has said passenger numbers were 60% lower in November than before the coronavirus pandemic and there were “high cancellations” among business travellers concerned about being trapped overseas for Christmas as Omicron spreads. The UK’s largest airport said the government’s travel restrictions had dealt a fresh blow to travel confidence and predicted it was likely to take several years for passenger numbers to return to pre-pandemic levels. This week ministers said passengers arriving in the UK would have to take a pre-departure Covid test, as well as a post-flight test, because of fears about the spread of the new variant. “[The] high level of cancellations by business travellers concerned about being trapped overseas because of pre-departure testing shows the potential harm to the economy of travel restrictions,” the airport said in an update. Heathrow said the drop in traveller confidence owing to the new travel restrictions had negated the benefit of reopening the all-important corridor to North America for business and holiday travel last month. Eleven African countries have been added to the government’s red list, requiring travellers to quarantine before reuniting with families. “By allowing Brits to isolate at home, ministers can make sure they are reunited with their loved ones this Christmas,” said John Holland-Kaye, the chief executive of Heathrow. “It would send a strong signal that restrictions on travel will be removed as soon as safely possible to give passengers the confidence to book for 2022, opening up thousands of new jobs for local people at Heathrow. Let’s reunite families for Christmas.” Heathrow said that if the government could safely signal that restrictions would be lifted soon, then employers at Heathrow would have the confidence to hire thousands of staff in anticipation of a boost in business next summer. The airport is expecting a slow start to 2022, finishing next year with about 45 million passengers – just over half of pre-pandemic levels. This week Tui, Europe’s largest package holiday operator, said it expected bookings for next summer to bounce back to 2019 levels. However, Heathrow said on Friday not to expect the aviation industry to recover for several years. “We do not expect that international travel will recover to 2019 levels until at least all travel restrictions (including testing) are removed from all the markets that we serve, at both ends of the route, and there is no risk of new restrictions, such as quarantine, being imposed,” the airport said.](https://wordupnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/shutterstock_1100012546-scaled-400x240.jpg)
![Heathrow has said passenger numbers were 60% lower in November than before the coronavirus pandemic and there were “high cancellations” among business travellers concerned about being trapped overseas for Christmas as Omicron spreads. The UK’s largest airport said the government’s travel restrictions had dealt a fresh blow to travel confidence and predicted it was likely to take several years for passenger numbers to return to pre-pandemic levels. This week ministers said passengers arriving in the UK would have to take a pre-departure Covid test, as well as a post-flight test, because of fears about the spread of the new variant. “[The] high level of cancellations by business travellers concerned about being trapped overseas because of pre-departure testing shows the potential harm to the economy of travel restrictions,” the airport said in an update. Heathrow said the drop in traveller confidence owing to the new travel restrictions had negated the benefit of reopening the all-important corridor to North America for business and holiday travel last month. Eleven African countries have been added to the government’s red list, requiring travellers to quarantine before reuniting with families. “By allowing Brits to isolate at home, ministers can make sure they are reunited with their loved ones this Christmas,” said John Holland-Kaye, the chief executive of Heathrow. “It would send a strong signal that restrictions on travel will be removed as soon as safely possible to give passengers the confidence to book for 2022, opening up thousands of new jobs for local people at Heathrow. Let’s reunite families for Christmas.” Heathrow said that if the government could safely signal that restrictions would be lifted soon, then employers at Heathrow would have the confidence to hire thousands of staff in anticipation of a boost in business next summer. The airport is expecting a slow start to 2022, finishing next year with about 45 million passengers – just over half of pre-pandemic levels. This week Tui, Europe’s largest package holiday operator, said it expected bookings for next summer to bounce back to 2019 levels. However, Heathrow said on Friday not to expect the aviation industry to recover for several years. “We do not expect that international travel will recover to 2019 levels until at least all travel restrictions (including testing) are removed from all the markets that we serve, at both ends of the route, and there is no risk of new restrictions, such as quarantine, being imposed,” the airport said.](https://wordupnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/shutterstock_1100012546-scaled-80x80.jpg)
