The week ahead will see new PM Sir Keir Starmer face his first Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs). The Chartered Institute of Export & International Trade will be discussing what the new government could mean for trade, while elsewhere in the news Venezuelans will be heading to the polls to select their new president.
Parliamentary happenings
Tuesday (23 July) brings parliamentary debate following last week’s King’s Speech in which the new Labour government set out its legislative agenda.
Also in Parliament, prime minister Sir Keir Starmer will face his first PMQs on Wednesday.
Anticipated exchanges include criticism from new MP and Reform UK leader Nigel Farage about Labour’s intention to “reset” the UK’s relationship with the EU, signalled last week by business and trade secretary Jonathan Reynolds’ words at a G7 summit in Italy and Starmer hosting a diplomatic gathering of European leaders at Blenheim Palace.
Chartered Institute webinar
The Chartered Institute will be hosting a discussion on how the government should approach trade, with UK public affairs lead Grace Thompson among experts speaking at our webinar on Wednesday’s free public webinar.
On the agenda will be UK trade challenges the new government will need to overcome, the likely steps it will take based on manifesto promises and how businesses can have their say and shape future policy.
Venezuela
The end of the week (28 July) will see Venezuelans head to the polls to elect the country’s new president. The government became more oppressive under Hugo Chavez and successor Nicolás Maduro, also the incumbent, with concerns that his administration will not accept a loss.
These fears have been stoked by viable opposition contender, Edmundo González, a former diplomat. With several other opposition figures banned from running, González has emerged as a unity candidate for those opposing Maduro.
Venezuela is home to the world’s largest oil reserves and is currently closely aligned with China, Russia and Iran. A democratic González victory could see the lifting of US sanctions on the country.
Mismanagement of the country’s oil reserves led to economic collapse a decade ago, which was followed by mass Venezuelan migration to the US. The Biden administration’s decision to both reimpose sanctions for anti-democratic practices, while deporting Venezuelans has been controversial with left-leaning democrats.
ASEAN meeting
Laos will be holding the 57th meeting of foreign ministers for the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN).
While neither nation is a member of the bloc, all eyes will be on US foreign secretary Antony Blinken and his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi, who will both be attending.
Asked about tensions following the US condemnation of China for enabling Russia’s war in Ukraine, Blinken reassured reporters that the rival nations maintain strong lines of communication, and that he speaks to Li on a “fairly regular basis”.
“It's also important because … we're able to communicate very clearly on areas where we disagree, so at least China knows where we're coming from, just as we know where they're coming from.”
Other dates in the diary:
Monday – EU foreign ministers meet on Ukraine and Gaza
Tuesday – High Court hears challenge to government’s climate change policies
Wednesday – The UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) publishes its State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World report
Thursday – Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) automotive production figures released
Friday – Paris Olympics opening ceremony
Saturday – Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change hosted by Bulgaria
Sunday – Peruvian national holidays