32 h. ago Shabana Mahmood says UK will seek reform of human rights convention

Justice secretary says ‘public confidence in the rule of law is fraying’ but she wants to protect ECHR by changing itEchoes of Brexit as Starmer is pressed to seize initiative on human rightsThe justice secretary, Shabana Mahmood, has said Britain will pursue reform of the European convention on human rights (ECHR), both at home and in Strasbourg, saying “public confidence in the rule of law is fraying”.Mahmood’s warning in her speech at the Council of Europe came as the home secretary, Yvette Cooper, said she would undertake an examination of how the courts were applying the right to freedom from degrading treatment. Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago TikTok to create hundreds of jobs in the UK as over 30 million Brits use app

Britain is the social media giant’s largest European user base

Politics

1 week ago Young Scots to represent Great Britain at top European fitness event in the Netherlands

Brodie McKenzie and Anna Jamieson are preparing to do Ayrshire and Scotland proud this weekend.

Politics

2 w. ago The Guardian view on the Conservatives and international law: a party trapped inside its own destructive obsessions | Editorial

Kemi Badenoch’s European human rights withdrawal plan would weaken Britain, delight authoritarians and achieve none of the goals the Tories imagineKemi Badenoch’s announcement of a Conservative party inquiry into a British withdrawal from the European convention on human rights (ECHR) should fool no one. The working party under the shadow attorney general, David Wolfson, announced on Thursday, will not look dispassionately at whether the UK should withdraw. It will merely try to say why and how. The policy of withdrawal itself is almost, to coin a phrase, oven-ready.This back-to-front policymaking process exemplifies the party’s rudderless drift under Mrs Badenoch. Tory policy is not now in the hands of the leader or the shadow cabinet. It is in the hands of Reform UK and the opinion polls. Mrs Badenoch is a follower of events. Hers is the approach of someone still trapped in a party bubble which is consumed by the belief that withdrawal is the key to regaining the Conservative...

Society

2 w. ago Eurostar could see Channel Tunnel monopoly threatened as government reveals plans to increase number of trains from Britain to Europe

The Office of Rail and Road said it will allocate spare capacity at Eurostar's Temple Mills depot in Leyton, East London, to either one new operator or Eurostar itself, which has plans to grow.

Politics

2 w. ago Five Turner works to be auctioned on 250th anniversary of painter’s birth

A watercolour titled Lake Brienz, With The Setting Moon, is estimated to fetch between £600,000 and £800,000.

Economics

2 w. ago UK politics live: Britain must be ready to fight war in Europe, Starmer’s strategic defence review to warn

PM to announce measures in long-awaited strategic defence review

Events

3 w. ago Voices: This latest WFH revelation makes me see office workers in a new light

As a new study reveals Britain is the working-from-home capital of Europe, Emma Clarke has renewed respect – and sympathy – for those who do a daily commute

Politics

3 w. ago Britain and Europe are moving beyond Brexit. Now for the real trade

This week’s ‘reset’ deal is a welcome return to pragmatism. But both sides must go further in facing up to the new world order

Politics

3 w. ago Trump ‘recommending’ 50% tariff on EU, and threatens Apple with 25% tariff – business live

US president Donald Trump reignites trade war with threat to impose high tariffs on European goods, and Apple iPhones made overseasTypical energy bill in Great Britain to fall 7% to £1,720 a year from JulyAs well as cutting UK energy costs (see earlier), Donald Trump can also take credit for growing the German economy!New GDP data this morning shows that Germany’s GDP rose by 0.4% in January-March, twice as fast as the first estimate of 0.2% growth in the quarter.“The reason for the slightly higher growth compared to the initial estimate was the surprisingly positive economic development in March.”“In particular, production in the manufacturing sector and exports performed better than initially expected.The German economy had its best quarterly performance since the third quarter of 2022, and the reason for it seems to be Donald Trump. As a result of the announced tariffs and in anticipation of ‘Liberation Day,’ German industrial production and exports surged in March.Net exports an...

Politics