Trump's Nato attack on Germany 'disgraceful' and 'destructive' says ex US secretary of state - Politics live

• Donald Trump has told other Nato countries to spend as much as 4% of their GDP on defence after launching an extraordinary tirade against Germany on the first day of the Nato summit. No country in the alliance spends that much on defence, and currently only five of the 29 members are spending 2% (the current target) or more. (See 2.11pm.) Earlier Trump claimed that a gas pipeline deal meant German was “a captive of Russia”. (See 10.10am). Angela Merkel, the German chancellor, hit back with a public statement saying that her upbringing in Eastern Germany meant she could remember the time when some Germans really were under the control of Russia. (See 11.57am.) Later Trump and Merkel staged a slightly awkward photocall after bilateral talks where Trump said he had “a very, very good relationship” with her. (See 3.30pm.) Trump was speaking as new polling was published showing that three quarters of Britons don’t believe that Trump is generally honest. (See 11.50am.)

• John Kerry, the Democratic former US secretary of state, has said Trump’s comments about Germany today were “disgraceful”, “destructive” and counter to US interests. (See 5.15pm.)
  

• Emily Thornberry has condemned the Chequers Brexit plan as a “half-baked, backdoor version of the customs union”, using one of her occasional appearances at prime minister’s questions to stress that Labour will oppose Theresa May’s proposals.

• Angry hardline Brexiters have submitted four amendments to the government’s trade bill, arguing that Theresa May has broken their trust with the soft Brexit negotiating plan she unveiled at Chequers.

• Labour’s bid to force the government to dock the pay of work and pensions secretary Esther McVey has been voted down by MPs. As the Press Association reports, the motion to “sanction” McVey, by freezing her pay for four weeks after she misled MPs over the Government’s flagship welfare reforms, was defeated by 305 votes to 268. Amid hostile scenes in the chamber, McVey was urged to halt the rollout of the benefit, as Labour sought to “sanction” the cabinet minister for her handling of universal credit, which has included a public row with Whitehall’s spending watchdog, the National Audit Office (NAO). Shadow work and pensions secretary Margaret Greenwood, opening an opposition day debate, told MPs:

Her approach was shockingly complacent - as if oblivious to the hardship so many people are suffering. The secretary of state repeatedly claims her department is testing and learning, but this testing and learning is using people as guinea pigs - this is unacceptable. Where is the dignity?

Greenwood called on McVey to halt UC and put forward a “credible plan to fix its many failings before many more people suffer”. McVey defended the system, and asked Labour to apologise for comments previously made by shadow chancellor John McDonnell who recounted a comment he heard at a public meeting in which someone said she should be “lynched”. McVey also called on the opposition to say sorry for tax credits and figures on the number of children in poverty.

• Prisoners in England and Wales are enduring some of the most disturbing conditions ever seen as violence and self-harm rockets due to stretched resources and staff shortages, the chief prisons inspector has said.

• The Labour MP Jared O’Mara has revealed he attempted suicide three times after a string of homophobic and misogynistic comments he had made online in his 20s resurfaced.

That’s all from me for today.

Thanks for the comments.

Following the discussion among Nato leaders on the need for greater burden-sharing, a senior UK government official said there had been “unity” among members. As the Press Association reports, in the wake of Donald Trump’s comments on Germany’s pipeline deal with Russia (see 10.10am), the official said the UK supported the diversification of energy sources in Europe. There is an issue in Europe seeking to diversify its sources of energy. Work is ongoing in that respect and we support that,” the official said.

Jon Thomson, the head of HM Revenue and Customs, told MPs at a committee hearing this afternoon that he had aged 35 years worrying about Brexit, my colleague Lisa O’Carroll reports.

John Kerry, the Democratic former US secretary of state, has released a lengthy statement about what President Trump said about Germany this morning. (See 9.15am and 10.10am.) Kerry says Trump’s remarks were “disgraceful” and “destructive”.

The Spectator’s James Forsyth says President Trump’s call for Nato countries to spend 4% of GDP on defence will make the government’s defence review even harder.

11 Jul 201812.05 EDT

Libby Brooks

In Scotland politicians, police and protesters continue to struggle to pin down precisely what is happening when the US President arrives in Scotland.

Although it has been confirmed that the UK government’s Scottish secretary David Mundell will greet Donald Trump when he arrives near Glasgow on Friday, it is understood that no members of the Scottish government will be present, nor will Trump meet the first minster of Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon, who has been a vocal critic of his policies in the past.

It appears that Trump’s stay at his luxury resort in Turnberry, on the west coast, will be an entirely private visit, as he prepares for his meeting in Finland with Putin.

Although there are rumours of ad hoc protests around the Turnberry resort, the main demonstrations on Friday evening and Saturday afternoon will be happening in Glasgow and then Edinburgh.

Yesterday Scotland’s justice secretary Humza Yousaf voiced frustration felt by politicians and the police as he called for “further clarity” around Trump’s as police struggle to organise the £5m security operation with limited forewarning. He urged those wanting to protest against the US President’s visit to do so safely and peacefully.

The White House has confirmed that President Trump wants to double the Nato defence spending target. This is from Bloomberg’s Mike Dorning.

Jacob Rees-Mogg, the Conservative MP who chairs the pro-Brexit European Research Group, has issued this statement about the amendments the ERG is tabling designed to sabotage Theresa May’s Chequers plan. (See 3.09pm.) He said:

The amendments will put into law the government’s often stated position that Northern Ireland should be treated the same way as the rest of the country.

They will also ensure reciprocity of customs collection, and treating the UK and EU as equals.

They will put into law the government’s stated position that we will not be part of the EU VAT regime.

They will finally require any customs union should be created by primary not secondary legislation, so removing a Henry VIII power.

The Mail on Sunday’s Dan Hodges thinks Rees-Mogg is being hypocritical.

This is what Bulgaria’s president, Rumen Radev, told reporters about what happened at this afternoon’s meeting. Radev said:

President Trump, who spoke first, raised the issue not only to achieve 2%, today, but [set] a new barrier - 4%.

Q: Is it true that Trump asked Nato leaders to raise spending to 4% of GDP?

Stoltenberg says he will focus on what has been agreed. It has been agreed that they should raise defence spending to 2% of GDP. And they are making progress towards that.

• Nato chief says 4% has not been agreed as a target - but he does not deny that Trump proposed it.

And that’s the end of the press conference.

Q: What did Trump says about his forthcoming meeting with President Putin?

Stoltenberg says Nato leaders will discuss Russia at their dinner tonight.

On the subject of the US presence in Europe, Stoltenberg says it has increased under the Trump presidency. “Actions speak louder than words” he says.

He says he is “absolutely confident” about the US commitment to European security.

This is from my colleague Pippa Crerar who is at the Nato summit.

Q: There is a view that 2% is not enough and it should be higher (Trump’s view). Should it be higher?

Stoltenberg says the first thing is to get Nato countries up to 2%.

In 2014, when Nato recommitted to this (at a summit in Wales), only three countries were hitting this. Now it is up to eight.

Jens Stoltenberg, the Nato general secretary, is now holding a press conference.

He says Nato has agreed to set up new teams to deal with hybrid warfare, such as cyber attacks.

Nato will be able to draw on members’ cyber capabilities, he says.

He says Nato has launched a new training mission in Iraq. Canada will lead it, he says. It will be a non-combat mission involving several hundred trainers.

Support for Jordan and Tunisia was increased, he says.

He says they all agree that they need more fair burden-sharing, and more spending on defence.

The good news is they are making progress. After decades of defence spending cuts, it is now going up, he says.

He says eight Nato members are now committed to reaching the 2% of GDP spending target, and a majority of countries will reach this by 2024.

He says last year saw the biggest increase in defence spending since the cold war.

At the Nato summit Donald Trump has also had a bilateral with the French president, Emmanuel Macron. Trump and Macron have a famously warm relationship - they see themselves as outsiders, and Macron scored a hit by inviting Trump to the Bastille Day parade in Paris, inspiring Trump to dream up his own version - and this meeting seems to have been much jollier than the “bilat” with Merkel. (See 3.30pm.)

These are from CBS’s Mark Knoller.

Here is the press room at the Nato summit. My colleague Ewen MacAskill says more than 2,000 reporters are accredited, which is more than usual for a Nato summit.

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