The Prime Minister spoke to Prime Minister Conte of Italy.

The leaders committed to strengthening the partnership between the UK and Italy as we prepare to leave the EU, including our economic ties.

The Prime Minister reiterated that Brexit will happen on 31 October with or without a deal. He underlined his commitment to ensuring the rights of Italian nationals in the UK after Brexit.

They also discussed the UK’s bid to host the COP26 Summit, in partnership with Italy, and agreed on the importance of working together to tackle climate change and protect the environment.

The Prime Minister spoke to President Erdogan of Turkey.

The leaders agreed to work together to build on the close relationship between our two countries. They discussed the importance of bilateral co-operation on counterterrorism and ways in which we might strengthen our bilateral trading ties.

The Prime Minister thanked President Erdogan for Turkey’s role in providing a home to so many refugees who have fled the conflict in Syria.

The leaders ended by looking forward to seeing each other again at the earliest opportunity.

The Prime Minister received a call of congratulation from Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Löfven.

The leaders agreed to work together to intensify our bilateral partnership in areas such as trade, security and defence, and on foreign policy. They discussed Iran’s illegal seizure of the British-flagged, Swedish-owned Stena Impero in the Persian Gulf and said that the ship must be released.

On Brexit, the Prime Minister reiterated the message he delivered in the House of Commons: that the Withdrawal Agreement has been rejected three times by Parliament and will not pass in its current form so – if the EU wants a deal – it needs to change its stance. Any deal must involve the abolition of the anti-democratic backstop. The UK is making all necessary preparations to leave the EU on 31 October whatever the circumstances.

They agreed on the importance of ensuring the rights of Swedish citizens in Britain and British citizens in Sweden after Brexit.

The Prime Minister received a call of congratulation from German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

They agreed to continue to strengthen our bilateral relationship, and to work together closely on foreign policy and security issues.

On Brexit, the Prime Minister said that he would be energetic in reaching out as much as possible to try to achieve a deal, but he reiterated the message he delivered in the House of Commons: Parliament has rejected the Withdrawal Agreement three times and so the UK must fully prepare for the alternative – which is to leave without a deal on October 31.

He said the only solution that would allow us to make progress on a deal is to abolish the backstop.

The PM and Chancellor agreed to stay in contact.

Call to run a project to deliver activities to support the leadership and management skills of women in SME businesses in the Leeds City Region LEP area.