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Keir Starmer today insisted Britain only supplies weapons to Ukraine for 'self-defence' after Storm Shadow missiles were fired on Russia for the first time. The PM accused Vladimir Putin of wanting 'destruction not peace' as he defied threats from the Kremlin. The statement in the Commons came as experts have cautioned that the UK should expect 'more sabotage and subversion' after the West scaled up support for Kyiv. Russia this morning apparently fired an intercontinental ballistic missile as part of reprisals against targets in Ukraine. It came the day after Kyiv's forces battered a Russian command headquarters in the Kursk...

Boris Johnson dramatically pulled out of a press conference in Luxembourg today after protests and an extraordinary spat with counterpart Xavier Bettel. Protesters carrying messages including 'Bog Off Boris' first jeered the PM after showdown talks with EU commission president Jean-Claude Juncker over lunch at a restaurant. And Mr Johnson then faced cat-calls from a crowd including British ex-pats as he arrived for a meeting with Luxembourg counterpart Xavier Bettel. The stormy atmosphere led to Mr Johnson requesting the press call be held outside following their private discussions. It was originally planned to be held just yards from the demonstrations....

Boris Johnson faces a showdown over the election date this afternoon - after dramatically winning his battle for a pre-Christmas poll following a climbdown by Jeremy Corbyn. Although the ballot now looks almost certain to take place, the PM is still engaged in bitter wrangling with opposition parties over whether it should be on December 9. 10, 11 or 12. Battle lines are being drawn in the House over the process for passing a short Bill that will trigger an election. If it goes through by the end of the day it will move to the Lords, and Parliament is...