In his long-waited speech, Rishi Sunak has highlighted the UK’s threats from authoritarian states including Russia, Iran, North Korea and China.

He added they are working to “undermine” the UK’s values.

Specifically focusing on Vladimir Putin, he said the Russian president’s “recklessness has taken us closer to a dangerous nuclear escalation than at any point since the Cuban missile crisis”.

In a long-awaited speech, the prime minister highlighted the existential threat posed by Russia, Iran, North Korea and China.

But his awkward new term, the ‘axis of authoritarian states’, shows that this is not a battlefield on which our technocrat leader feels at home, says Joe Murphy.

Esther McVey has defended her role as the “minister for common sense” – an unofficial title bestowed after her appointment to the Cabinet Office in Rishi Sunak’s reshuffle.

The Conservative MP for Tatton referenced the Greek philosopher in a speech at the right-wing Centre for Policy Studies think tank as she announced there would be no more spending on external equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) contracts without an explicit sign-off from a minister.

“Aristotle thought common sense helped us form coherent thoughts and make rational decisions. It’s as important [as] a sense of sight, hearing, touch, taste, smell,” Ms McVey said.

Labour MP for Canterbury Rosie Duffield says Natalie Elphicke should have the Labour whip removed.

She urged the former Tory to be suspended while an investigation into lobbying accusations is carried away.

Elphicke he has been accused of approaching the justice secretary to interfere in husband’s sex offense trial.

But she has denied all the accusations.

Speaking to the BBC, Ms Duffield said Labour would have called for the same if it was a Tory MP.

She added: “And therefore it should apply when it’s one of our own MPs, which apparently Natalie now is.”

During a visit to the GTG Training, which delivers courses and apprenticeships, Sir Keir Starmer has vowed to protect workers under a Labour government.

Speaking in Wolverhampton, he said: “I’m absolutely committed to our new deal for working people.

“This will be the biggest levelling up of workers’ rights in a generation.

“So no watering down, 100% committed to it – and it is about respect and dignity but it’s also a story about economic growth and taking our country forward.”

The Labour Party keeps leading the way over the Tories, according to a survey by Deltapoll.

Today’s poll, conducted in the last three days, shows Labour at a 45% of the voting intention.

Sir Keir Starmer’s party has gone up by two points since the last polling.

Meanwhile, the Conservatives are behind at 27%.

The Lib Dems have gone down by two points with only eight per cent.

DUP interim leader Gavin Robinson has urged the government to prevent a fracture in immigration policy between UK regions.

He is accusing the Prime Minister of ignoring the fact his Rwanda plan was incompatible with the Windsor Framework.

It comes after the Belfast High Court has today ruled parts of the Illegal Migration Act cannot be enforced in Northern Ireland.

Welcoming the ruling, Mr Robinson said it serves to “blow the government’s irrational claims that the Rwanda scheme could extend equally to Northern Ireland completely out of the water”.

He added: “For ministers to ignore what the courts have said would not be merely a case of sleepwalking into the creation of immigration border in the Irish Sea, but rather embarking on such a path with eyes wide open.”

Polling from Ipsos has revealed three in four Brits (75%) think it is unlikely he will win the next election.

He is left with only 14% of support from people who think he still has a good shot at remaining in Downing Street.

Ipsos head of political research Gideon Skinner said: “After a tough set of results at last week’s local elections, the public do not set much store for Rishi Sunak’s chances at the next general election.

“While they are not yet fully convinced by Keir Starmer, voters are clearly unimpressed with the performance of the prime minister and his government – and if anything getting worse – which at the moment is enough to fuel expectations of a Labour victory.”

The Prime Minister has set up national security as his main priority if he gets re-elected.

He has also used the issue to attack the Labour Party claiming the UK would be less safe if Sir Keir Starmer gets into power.

Here are the main points:

• Addressing voters, he said the upcoming election will be a choice between the future and the past.

• He said the world is closer to nuclear escalation since the Cuban missile crisis.

• He promised to invest in new technologies including AI.

• He addressed illegal migration and stressed support for Ukraine.