24 h. ago ‘Lots of bumps in the road’: Keir Starmer faces testing month before one

From spending review to China audit to assisted dying vote, June’s events have potential to lift or darken Labour moodAs Keir Starmer approaches his first anniversary in Downing Street, there will be several things he wishes he had done differently. But before he can contemplate that July milestone, he faces a busy month strewn with political bear traps.June has proven a difficult time for successive prime ministers: Theresa May, Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak all had to contend with deeply unhappy parliamentary parties reeling from heavy local and European election losses. Continue reading...

Politics

59 h. ago Why is defence such a hard sell? The same reason Starmer is struggling in the polls | Martin Kettle

Decades of failures have left liberal democratic governments unable to command public confidence when it really mattersDefence reviews and foreign policy resets seem to turn up almost as often as the Sussexes’ lifestyle brand relaunches these days. Labour’s strategic defence review this week comes less than two years after the Conservatives’ hardly less detailed defence white paper in July 2023, which in turn was a “refresh” of Boris Johnson’s ambitious integrated review of defence and foreign policy of March 2021. By this measure, it must be doubtful if, come the 2030s, analysts will look back on Keir Starmer and John Healey’s review and say it broke the mould.The Labour government was entitled to try to put its own stamp on defence policy, of course, and its review team of George Robertson, Richard Barrons and Fiona Hill did a good, reasonably independent job. Yet this 2020s pattern of repeated strategic adaptation and refocus feels like the new normal now. It is also true that gr...

Politics

2 d. ago The Guardian view on Labour’s investment plans: sugaring the bitter pill of austerity | Editorial

The chancellor is right to be planning for the long term, but voters won’t be patient if change isn’t felt soonInequality between British regions is not a new problem and Rachel Reeves is not the first chancellor to want to close the gap. In 2014, George Osborne promised a “northern powerhouse” to rival the dominance of London and the south-east. He pledged devolution and investment in infrastructure to connect northern cities, to unlock productivity and growth.Since then, Britain’s economy has suffered multiple shocks, some external (the pandemic, inflation stoked by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine), others self-inflicted (Brexit, Liz Truss’s mini-budget). Each time, the damage was more severe in places already falling behind. Boris Johnson claimed levelling up as his defining purpose. Rishi Sunak let the ambition slide. Now it is being revived by a Labour chancellor. In a speech announcing transport investments on Wednesday, Ms Reeves promised a “renewal of Britain”, with prosperity ...

Politics

6 d. ago Covid PPE left gathering dust by Tory failings cost taxpayer £762million

Boris Johnson's Government panic ordered mountains of protective kit as the pandemic took hold, which was piled up in shipping containers as storage facilities were overwhelmed

Economics

7 d. ago BORIS JOHNSON: Like an alcoholic reaching for the bottle, Labour are addicted to a greedy gulp of the old tax and spend

Watching the Labour Government trying to manage the UK economy is like watching an alcoholic trying to deal with a lifetime of addiction.

Politics

8 d. ago Prime Minister Farage? He’s serious about that – it’s time the country was too | Gaby Hinsliff

His tax-and-spending maths may be bonkers, but while Labour dithers, the Reform leader knows just what his voters wantIf Nigel Farage has a secret weapon, it is his seeming refusal to take things seriously.His habit of repairing to the pub at any opportunity – though in private, he’s said to barely drink now – and the cheerfully unabashed amateurishness of his operation have long made other politicians look stuffy by comparison. But the chaos is also, as it was for Boris Johnson, a means of defence.Gaby Hinsliff is a Guardian columnist Continue reading...

Politics

8 d. ago It's Nigel Cabbage! Reform's Nigel Farage tipped to become the next Lettuce Liz Truss

Everyone remember Liz Truss, or, the answer to a pub quiz question in a decade's time of 'who was the Prime Minister between Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak'... well, she's got a successor

Politics

1 week ago Nigel Farage could 'definitely' become PM, says Dominic Cummings

The controversial former chief adviser to Boris Johnson confirmed he has held meetings with Mr Farage and advised the Reform UK leader on how to win power.

Politics

1 week ago Badenoch to go ‘probably this year’, says former No 10 adviser Dominic Cummings

Boris Johnson’s former aide described Nigel Farage’s Reform UK as a ‘vehicle’ for voters to say they ‘despise’ Westminster.

Politics

1 week ago The rules behind Pope Leo remaining a US citizen now he’s a foreign head of state

Other US citizens have served as foreign heads of state

Politics

1 week ago Carrie Johnson welcomes fourth child but how many kids does Boris Johnson really have?

Carrie and Boris Johnson have had four kids together, with Poppy the latest to join the family, although the former PM has several more kids from his previous relationships

Politics

1 week ago Inside Boris Johnson and Carrie's rollercoaster romance from fiery fights to new arrival

Boris Johnson and wife Carrie Johnson’s 24-year age gap hasn’t stopped their rollercoaster romance. With their fourth child together and Boris’s ninth overall, he’s no stranger to parenthood

Politics

1 week ago Can Pope Leo remain a U.S. citizen now that he's a foreign head of state?

Pope Leo XIV’s election as the first American to lead the Catholic Church elevated him to the rare position of being a U.S. citizen who is also a foreign head of state

Politics

1 week ago How many children does Boris Johnson have? Former PM welcomes baby girl Poppy

The politician has welcomed another child with his wife Carrie

Politics

1 week ago Carrie and Boris Johnson reveal adorable nickname for newborn daughter

The Former PM welcomed a ninth child into the world yesterday, with wife Carrie quick to brainstorm nicknames on social media

Politics

1 week ago Boris Johnson: How many children does the former prime minister have?

The politician has welcomed another child with his wife Carrie

Politics

1 week ago How many children does Boris Johnson have? Carrie Johnson announces surprise birth of fourth child

Carrie Johnson, wife of former PM Boris Johnson, has just announced the birth of their fourth child

Politics

1 week ago Boris Johnson's allies 'urging him to make bombshell return' as Tory leader with party rebels 'considering options' for ousting Kemi Badenoch

Details of a plot to reinstall the ex-premier to the political frontline have emerged as pressure piles on current party leader Kemi Badenoch.

Politics

1 week ago ‘We’re totally smitten’: Boris and Carrie Johnson welcome fourth baby

Former prime minister and his wife share news of Poppy Eliza Josephine Johnson’s arrival in an Instagram postThe former prime minister Boris Johnson and his wife, Carrie Johnson, have welcomed a fourth baby to the family.The former leader of the Conservative party can be seen holding his daughter, Poppy Eliza Josephine Johnson, in an Instagram post shared on Saturday. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Watch: Boris Johnson’s wife Carrie shares first video of their newborn daughter

Carrie Johnson has shared a heartwarming video on Instagram to announce the birth of her fourth child, Poppy Eliza Josephine Johnson, with former Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

Politics