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By Deborah Haynes, security and defence editor

Career spy Blaise Metreweli will become the first woman to head MI6 in a "historic appointment", the prime minister has announced.

She will take over from Sir Richard Moore as the 18th Chief, also known as "C", when he steps down in the autumn.

"The historic appointment of Blaise Metreweli comes at a time when the work of our intelligence services has never been more vital," Sir Keir Starmer said in a statement released on Sunday night.

"The United Kingdom is facing threats on an unprecedented scale - be it aggressors who send their spy ships to our waters or hackers whose sophisticated cyber plots seek to disrupt our public services."

Of the other main spy agencies, GCHQ is also under female command for the first time.

Anne Keast-Butler took on the role in 2023, while MI5 has previously twice been led by a woman.

A watch list for potential ministerial resignations over Labour's welfare reforms is in place, Harriet Harman says.

Speaking to Sky News political editor Beth Rigby on the Electoral Dysfunction podcast, Baroness Harman reckons there could be resignations over the matter.

While last week's spending review was taking up most of the headlines, the government told their MPs that controversial reforms to disability benefits would go ahead.

The measures - headed up by Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall - have proved mightily unpopular in Labour circles.

More than 100 MPs from government benches are thought to have concerns about the plans to cut nearly 拢5bn from the welfare bill by restricting personal independence payments (PIP) and the health top-up to Universal Credit.

Spiralling welfare costs, particularly in the wake of the pandemic, have been singled out as an area where the government could save money.

Sir Keir Starmer has said he wants more people returning to the "dignity" of work.

Asked by Beth if resignations could be on the cards, Baroness Harman said: "There might be. But I don't think, not cabinet."

She added: "There are people on a watch list at the moment, but not cabinet ministers."

The return of Donald Trump to the G7 was always going to be unpredictable. That it is happening against the backdrop of an escalating conflict in the Middle East makes it even more so.

Expectations had already been low, with the Canadian hosts cautioning against the normal joint communique at the end of the summit, mindful that this group of leaders would struggle to find consensus.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney carefully laid down an agenda that was uncontroversial in a bid to avoid any blow-ups between President Trump and allies, who of late have been divided like never before - be it over tariffs and trade, Russia and Ukraine, or, more recently Israel's conduct in Gaza.

But discussions around critical minerals and global supply chains will undoubtedly drop down the agenda as leaders convene at a precarious moment.

Sir Keir Starmer, on his way over to Canada for a bi-lateral meeting in Ottawa with Carney before travelling on to the G7 summit in Kananaskis, underscored the gravity of the situation as he again spoke of de-escalation, while also confirming that the UK was deploying more British fighter jets to the region amid threats from Tehran that it will attack UK bases if London helps defend Israel against airstrikes.

Really this is a G7 agenda scrambled as world leaders race to de-escalate the worst fighting between Tel Aviv and Tehran in decades. Trump has for months been urging Israel not to strike Iran as he worked towards a diplomatic deal to halt uranium enrichment.

All eyes will be on Trump in the coming days, to see if the US - Israel's closest ally - will call on Israel to rein in its assault. 

The US has so far not participated in any joint attacks with Tel Aviv, but is moving warships and other military assets to the Middle East.

Baroness Louise Casey's findings on grooming gangs are set to be announced on Monday, after Sir Keir Starmer committed to a statutory inquiry.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper is set to address parliament over the review, which prompted the prime minister to implement a full probe after months of resistance.

Meanwhile, the Home Office has said that the National Crime Agency (NCA) will carry out a nationwide operation targeting people who have sexually exploited children.

Earlier this year, the government dismissed calls for a public inquiry, saying its focus was on putting in place the outstanding recommendations already made in a seven-year national inquiry by Professor Alexis Jay.

Liberal Democrat deputy leader Daisy Cooper said on Sunday that the delivery of the Casey review should not mean agencies and ministers delay on bringing forward changes that have been recommended before.

According to the Home Office, the NCA will work in partnership with police forces to investigate cases that "were not progressed through the criminal justice system" in the past.

Cooper said that it was "unforgivable" that "not enough people" listened to victims in the past, but ministers "are changing that now".

G7 allies will discuss further sanctions on Russia if Vladimir Putin does not agree to negotiate a ceasefire in Ukraine, Sir Keir Starmer has said.

Speaking last night en route to the G7 summit in Canada, the prime minister said the conference is an opportunity to have a broad conversation with allies about global security in a "constructive way".

His comments come as efforts by US President Donald Trump to bring Russia and Ukraine to the table for peace negotiations continue to fail, while the UK government and European allies continue to plan for a "coalition of the willing" to enforce any peace deal.

The prime minister is currently in Canada to attend the G7 summit - the annual meeting of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the US, and the UK, as well as the EU.

Speaking to journalists on the plane, Starmer was asked if he expects additional sanctions on Russia to be agreed by allies.

He replied: "We've got President ZelenAG百家乐在线官网y coming, so that provides a good opportunity for us to discuss this again as a group."

Good morning and welcome back to the Politics Hub for the start of another busy week.

Sir Keir Starmer is in Canada today, where he is meeting with members of the Group of Seven - who are largely expected to discuss tensions between Israel and Iran.

However, the prime minister said overnight that G7 allies will discuss further sanctions on Russia if Vladimir Putin does not agree to negotiate a ceasefire in Ukraine.

Starmer said the conference is an opportunity to have a broad conversation with allies about global security in a "constructive way".

Back in the UK, and Baroness Louise Casey's findings on grooming gangs are set to be announced - after Starmer committed to a statutory inquiry.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper is set to address parliament over the review, which prompted the prime minister to implement a full probe after months of resistance.

Meanwhile, the Home Office has said that the National Crime Agency (NCA) will carry out a nationwide operation targeting people who have sexually exploited children.

Also today, we are expecting the government to make a statement on the situation in the Middle East, as tensions worsen between Israel and Iran.

And in court, former Tory MP Patrick Spencer will appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Monday, charged with two counts of sexual assault.

Joining us to discuss all this and more will be: 

• Emma Reynolds, economic secretary to the Treasury, at 7.15am;

• Shadow home secretary Chris Philp at 8.15am.

We'll bring you updates throughout the day in the Politics Hub.

We're closing down the Politics Hub for another day.

Join us again in the morning for all the latest politics news as it happens.

Sir Keir Starmer went out for dinner with Canada's Mark Carney last night.

During what was surely an enthralling conversation between the former director of public prosecutions and Bank of England governor, the pair tucked into the usually gourmet spread with a symbolic twist supplied to world leaders.

According to the prime minister's spokesperson, the menu included a pastry containing British Columbian mushrooms and a Canadian cheese called grey owl, followed by a beef tenderloin with Ontario red wine sauce, and a maple syrup tartlet for dessert

The eagle-eyed/political obsessives might notice something about this.

Sir Keir Starmer doesn't eat meat.

While he has not completely sworn off flesh - he eats fish and has shared an anecdote about eating chicken in a pinch - a steak is not a part of his usual diet.

It's since been clarified that a Starmer-friendly seared halibut with a terrine of potato, celeriac and leek, and Canadian Le Coprin mushrooms was also on offer.

It's been a while since we've heard much about HS2, the glacial high-speed rail project, after it came under intense criticism by Rishi Sunak.

It now seems the Labour government might be looking to make more political capital from the way the project has been managed.

A senior Whitehall source told Sky News that a review by chief executive Mark Wild is "looking under the bonnet" - and Wild is "not liking what he is finding".

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander is set to make a statement this week on the project - although the exact date this will take place is not clear.

The source said the minister will highlight "ministerial mismanagement", a "lack of ministerial oversight" and an organisation that is "not fit for purpose".

Fraud investigation

It comes as HS2 Ltd reported one of its subcontractors to HMRC after an internal fraud investigation.

A spokesperson said: "We treat all whistleblower allegations seriously and are continuing to conduct our own investigation.

"Furthermore, HS2 Ltd has formally reported the allegations to HMRC, and we encourage anyone who believes they may have relevant information, which could support our inquiries, to report it in confidence via HS2's Speak Out channels."

The UK is sending assets to the Middle East - but what is going and where are they defending. 

Our military analyst Sean Bell breaks it all down in the video below.