Swinney willing to 'engage' with PM over plan to ban smoking in outdoor spaces

Macron hosts UK's Starmer a France's political deadlock goes on

Starmer meets Macron in a bid to beef up UK-France relations

The trip is part of the UK prime minister's two-day talks in Europe aimed at "resetting" the country's post-Brexit relationship with the EU.

Keir Starmer defends outdoor smoking ban amid backlash

Sir Keir Starmer has defended his government's decision to consider an outdoor smoking ban for pub gardens and sports venues. A report released on Thursday morning suggests the prime minister is considering a ban in certain outdoor areas including pub gardens and outside hospitals. "Over 80,000 people lose their lives every year because of smoking. That's a preventable death and it's a huge burden on the NHS and it's a burden on the taxpayer," Mr Starmer said. Report by Kennedyl. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn

Keir Starmer meets Emmanuel Macron at Élysée Palace

Sir Keir Starmer has met French President Emmanuel Macron at Élysée Palace in Paris. It comes ahead of a bilat meeting between the prime minister and the French president on Thursday afternoon. Report by Kennedyl. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn