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Hello and welcome to this edition of The Westminster Hour with me, Ben Wright, and my guests.

Coming up, what hope of de-escalation in the Middle East?

As Israel and Iran continue to trade blows, we will discuss the UK government's response,

the implications of the

conflict here and the potential fallout. The Prime Minister has announced his backing for a national

inquiry into grooming gang, something he's previously resisted. We'll consider why he's changed

his mind. And as MPs prepare to vote on two conscience issues, abortion and assisted dying,

we will look at the arguments for and against changing the law on each of them. First,

let's meet my panel. Rachel Blake is the Labour MP for the cities of London and Westminster.

Before entering Parliament at the last election, Rachel was a local councillor

and housing policy specialist working in the Treasury under the then-Chancellor Gordon Brown.

And since your constituency has Buckingham Palace in it, Rachel, does that mean a hectic

summer of Royal Garden Parties and cucumber sandwiches?

Not too hectic. I'd be delighted to spend some of my summer at garden parties at Buckingham Palace with cucumber sandwiches. I'm still waiting to meet the Duke of Westminster, as it happens, because he has quite a significant role in my constituency regarding housing and property.

Owned a chunk of it. He owns a significant, significant chunk of it. And lots of my constituents are quite interested in what he chooses to do with it.

But no meeting yet?

No meeting yet, but I'm still optimistic and hopeful that I'll get a chance to talk to him about some of these issues.

I'm sure he's listening.

Kieran Mullin represents Bexill and Battle for the Conservatives and is also shadowed justice minister.

Before politics, he was a doctor in emergency medicine.

And despite being a doctor, Kieran, and knowing the hazards, you still play rugby.

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