May 14, 2025

Hello there, I’m Matt Mathers and welcome to The Independent’s Inside Politics newsletter.

So much for the quiet recess.

Rishi Sunak, the prime minister, is in Belfast this morning for talks with leaders there about Brexit’s Northern Ireland protocol amid reports that a new deal is just days away.

Elsewhere, nurses have announced a significant escalation of strike action in their ongoing dispute with the government over pay and conditions.

And Keir Starmer has told Volodymyr Zelensky that support for Ukraine would not change under a Labour government.

Have a good weekend when you get there.

Inside the bubble

Policy correspondent Jon Stone on what to look out for today:

With parliament still in recess, all eyes will be on Belfast this morning as Sunak tries to sell his reported Brexit deal to the DUP.

David Lammy, the shadow foreign secretary, is out on the broadcast round for Labour. He will be on Sky News at 8.05am.

Daily briefing

Rishi Sunak in Northern Ireland for talks ahead of expected protocol deal

PM trying to ‘engage’ parties ahead of imminent agreement – but DUP remains defiant

Nurses to strike for 48 hours as emergency staff join biggest walkout so far

‘By refusing to negotiate with nurses, the Prime Minister is pushing even more people into the strike’ nursing chiefs warn

Keir Starmer tells Zelensky UK support will ‘remain the same’ under Labour government

Labour boss pledges to maintain British support during ‘constructive meeting’ with Ukrainian leader

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Australian state plans to poach 31,000 British doctors, police officers and teachers

Western Australia will send delegation to UK this month in bid to lure underpaid UK workers

Essential reading

Sean O’Grady, The Independent: After Nicola Sturgeon, the new battle for Scotland’s votes
John Rentoul, The Independent: Farewell Sturgeon and Corbyn: it’s been a good week for rational politics
Sebastian Payne, The Times: Nicola Sturgeon’s exit is big opportunity for unionists
Richard Fontaine, The Atlantic: China’s balloon-size blunder is a huge opportunity

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