The trilateral Aukus partnership involves building a new fleet of nuclear-powered attack submarines and co-operating in other areas of defence.

The first ever female head of MI6 has been announced by Sir Keir Starmer to lead Britain’s secret service in the face of an “unprecedented scale” of threats faced by the UK.

Sir Keir Starmer has insisted the Government’s welfare reforms must be pushed through in an indication there will be no more concessions to quell backbench unease over cuts to disability benefits.