90 m. ago Two arrested over phone hidden in Commons to reportedly play sex noises during PMQs

Police believe device was deliberately planted near frontbench to disrupt proceedings, prompting heightened security in parliamentPolice have arrested two men in connection with a mobile phone hidden in the House of Commons that was reportedly planted there to play sex noises during prime minister’s questions.The phone was found near the frontbench during a routine sweep of the chamber. It is believed to have been intended to interrupt the keynote weekly showdown between Keir Starmer and Kemi Badenoch in September. Continue reading...

Events

1 hour ago Labour MP becomes first to break ranks and call for Keir Starmer to be replaced by Andy Burnham as Prime Minister

Speaking to Channel 4 on Friday night, Mr Lewis said the Labour Party must put 'country before party' and boot out Starmer in favour of the current Mayor of Greater Manchester (pictured).

Politics

2 h. ago Lucy Powell slams 'unacceptable' Labour infighting and explains what needs to change

Speaking in a week that saw a briefing war emerge over Keir Starmer’s leadership, the Deputy Labour leader Lucy Powell called for a 'cultural reset' in how politics was done

Politics

4 h. ago Wave of London Labour defections grows as another councillor quits party over ‘financial mismanagement’

Hounslow councillor Vickram Grewal blamed his former party’s financial “mismanagement” as he announced he was joining the Conservatives

Politics

5 h. ago Keir Starmer must 'get a grip' in next three months or he is finished, Lord Blunkett says as Prime Minister's Cabinet is beset by leadership infighting and Budget chaos

Former Labour Home Secretary Lord David Blunkett has warned Sir Keir Starmer that he needs 'to get a grip' within three months or could face serious consequences.

Politics

6 h. ago Keir Starmer must 'get a grip' in next three months or he is finished, Lord Blunkett says as Prime Minister's Cabinet is beset by leadership intriguing and Budget chaos

Former Labour Home Secretary Lord David Blunkett has warned Sir Keir Starmer that he needs 'to get a grip' within three months or could face serious consequences.

Politics

11 h. ago Trump vows to sue BBC for up to $5bn over edited Panorama clip

The BBC apologised but said it would not pay financial compensation.

Politics

24 h. ago Ukrainian male model who 'set fires outside homes linked to Keir Starmer' appears in court

Roman Lavrynovych, 21, is accused of being behind a blaze started during the early hours of May 12 in Kentish Town, north London.

Events

24 h. ago ‘They all think Keir is done’: how push to protect Starmer’s job backfired spectacularly

Botched briefing operation was proof to many that PM is leading an ineffectual No 10. How did it go so wrong?If there’s one thing the Labour party can agree on this week, it is that efforts by Keir Starmer’s allies to shore up his position backfired spectacularly.By briefing journalists that he would face down any challenge and accusing Wes Streeting of leading an advanced plot to overthrow him, figures around the prime minister managed only to expose the weakness of his position. Continue reading...

Events

26 h. ago Anas Sarwar brands SNP 'economically illiterate' in clash over income tax rises

EXCLUSIVE: The Scottish Labour leader accused the SNP of "effectively arguing for a cut to its own budget".

Economics

26 h. ago Why the public needs decisiveness, not a government under Keir Starmer that changes with the wind

The UK Government’s short-term thinking may get them over hill this time, but it erodes public confidence.

Politics

27 h. ago Who could be behind the phantom briefing and the tax rise that wasn’t? Inspector Starmer is on the case | Marina Hyde

Chaos and ineptitude dog our poor PM. Perhaps the explanation lies (very) close to homeAt this rate the only businesses who will want to invest in Britain after the budget are heroin dealers. No 10 used to have a news grid, now it has an apology grid. Even so, why did Keir Starmer apologise for a sensationally self-destructive round of briefing against Wes Streeting if he didn’t do it? This is like me apologising for accidentally releasing sex offenders from prison. I suppose there is the occasional previous example in public life. Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor apologised for his association with Jeffrey Epstein and gave a woman he’d never met a reported £12m. Perhaps that provides the prime minister with the warming cover of precedent.If you’re just joining us, this is a week in which the government finally achieved the chaos spiral of several recent Conservative administrations. We can now officially say: same car, different clowns. We are less than two weeks out from the budget, wit...

Politics

27 h. ago Anas Sarwar demands Rachel Reeves uses Budget to finally scrap two

The Scottish Labour leader said Rachel Reeves had to deliver a Budget that "confronts child poverty".

Events

28 h. ago Treasury won’t cut threshold for higher rate income tax, say sources – UK politics live

Fallout continues over budget income tax U-turn, with Treasury saying expected fiscal gap has dropped to £20bnThis is from Helen Miller, director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies thinktank, on the market reaction to the chancellor’s reported budget U-turn.Investors will have 2 broad concerns about news that Chancellor won’t increase income tax rates1. Does it signal less willingness to do politically difficult thingsBritain’s long-term borrowing costs were sent soaring as reports suggested the latest U-turn would leave Rachel Reeves scrambling to fill a gaping black hole in the nation’s finances just two weeks before the 26 November budget.Yields on 30-year UK government bonds, also known as gilts, jumped as much as 14 basis points in early trading, and the yield on 10-year gilts also shot up 12 basis points – rising the most since July. Continue reading...

Politics

29 h. ago Nightmare on Downing Street: 'Iron Chancellor' loses her mettle with Budget U

Commentary: Two startling own goals in a week have damaged Sir Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves’ authority

Politics

29 h. ago POLL OF THE DAY: Would Wes Streeting be a better prime minister than Sir Keir Starmer?

Health Secretary Wes Streeting has long been tipped as a future prime minister ever since he led the National Union of Students and he has refused to rule out leadership ambitions.

Politics

29 h. ago Streeting says striking doctors ‘extremely irresponsible’ in angry phone

Health secretary unhappy as resident doctors in England have started a five-day strike todayThis is from Helen Miller, director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies thinktank, on the market reaction to the chancellor’s reported budget U-turn.Investors will have 2 broad concerns about news that Chancellor won’t increase income tax rates1. Does it signal less willingness to do politically difficult thingsBritain’s long-term borrowing costs were sent soaring as reports suggested the latest U-turn would leave Rachel Reeves scrambling to fill a gaping black hole in the nation’s finances just two weeks before the 26 November budget.Yields on 30-year UK government bonds, also known as gilts, jumped as much as 14 basis points in early trading, and the yield on 10-year gilts also shot up 12 basis points – rising the most since July. Continue reading...

Events

31 h. ago Streeting says he and Starmer ‘extremely frustrated’ by leadership row

Health Secretary Wes Streeting was targeted by briefings suggesting he was plotting a coup against Sir Keir Starmer.

Politics

34 h. ago Prime Minister Streeting? The wheels are coming off! SARAH VINE lays bare Labour's 'Traitors plot' against Starmer

Keir Starmer is on a sticky wicket, he's had a terrible year and he's about to have a terrible, terrible budget.

Politics

36 h. ago Wounded Keir Starmer needs a miracle as Labour infighting inflicts further blow to his credibility

Keir Starmer’s woes are setting Scottish Labour up for a particularly bad result at the Scottish Parliament elections in May

Politics