2 h. ago Starmer says welfare concessions are ‘common sense’ but dodges funding question – UK politics live

No 10 has offered significant concessions to the rebels amid fears over Tuesday’s voteNo 10 climbs down over welfare billStephen Kinnock, the care minister, was the government voice on the airwaves this morning. Here are the main points he made about the welfare bill U-turn.Kinnock rejected claims that the U-turn was a sign of weakness. When it was put to him on the Today programme that this move, coming after the U-turns on winter fuel payments and a national inquiry into grooming gangs, showed that if Keir Starmer was pushed, he would give in, Kinnock replied:I think if you talk to people out there in the country, they respond very positively to politicians listening, engaging, recognising that you don’t get everything right from day one every time, and making the adjustments and the changes that are needed.And this prime minister will always put the country first. He puts country before party, and he does the right thing for the country.He defended having a “staggered” approach t...

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6 h. ago Several key provisions in Trump’s ‘big, beautiful bill’ must be reworked, says Senate parliamentarian – US politics live

Elizabeth MacDonough rejects several major provisions, leaving GOP leaders scrambling to try to save legislation before 4 July deadlineby Joseph Gedeon and Robert Tait in WashingtonRepublican and Democratic senators have offered starkly contrasting interpretations of Donald Trump’s bombing of Iranian nuclear facilities after a delayed behind-closed-doors intelligence briefing that the White House had earlier postponed amid accusations of leaks. Continue reading...

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22 h. ago Republicans in turmoil after Senate parliamentarian rejects Medicaid cuts in Trump’s ‘big beautiful bill’ – live

Some Republicans call for Elizabeth MacDonough, who enforces Senate rules, to be fired after she rejects slew of major provisions Supreme court paves way for states to defund Planned ParenthoodBy taking military action, Trump “created the conditions to end the war, decimating, obliterating Iran’s nuclear capabilities”, Hegseth says, contrary to early US intelligence findings reported yesterday that suggested US strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites did not destroy two of the sites and only set program back by months.Hegseth starts off by praising Trump’s “game-changing” and “historic” achievement in getting most of the Nato allies to raise the defense spending to 5%. Continue reading...

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23 h. ago UK politics: ‘Bungling Badenoch’ under fire after suggesting Starmer wrong to miss PMQs for Nato summit – as it happened

Liberal Democrats say Conservative leader focused on ‘cheap point scoring’ and her MPs are in ‘open revolt’In his final answer Starmer explained how he thought government and business should work together.A true partnership is not two people or two bodies trying to do the same thing. It’s two people or bodies realising they bring different things to the table.Government shouldn’t try to run businesses. It’s done that in the past and it doesn’t work particularly well. Continue reading...

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25 h. ago ‘Bungling Badenoch’ under fire after suggesting Starmer wrong to miss PMQs for Nato summit – UK politics live

Liberal Democrats say Conservative leader focused on ‘cheap point scoring’ and her MPs are in ‘open revolt’In his final answer Starmer explained how he thought government and business should work together.A true partnership is not two people or two bodies trying to do the same thing. It’s two people or bodies realising they bring different things to the table.Government shouldn’t try to run businesses. It’s done that in the past and it doesn’t work particularly well. Continue reading...

Politics

26 h. ago Supreme court paves way for South Carolina and other states to defund Planned Parenthood

Decision could embolden red states in US to block clinics that provide abortions from receiving Medicaid fundsUS politics live – latest updatesThe US supreme court has paved the way for South Carolina to kick Planned Parenthood out of its Medicaid program over its status as an abortion provider, a decision that could embolden red states across the country to effectively “defund” the reproductive healthcare organization.The case, Medina v Planned Parenthood South Atlantic, centers around a 2018 executive order from South Carolina’s governor, Henry McMaster, that blocked clinics that provide abortions from receiving Medicaid reimbursements. “Payment of taxpayer funds to abortion clinics, for any purpose, results in the subsidy of abortion and the denial of the right to life,” McMaster said at the time, even though the reimbursements could not be used for abortions. Abortions are also now banned in South Carolina after six weeks of pregnancy.More details soon Continue reading...

Events

29 h. ago Starmer confirms willingness to make concessions on welfare bill, saying reforms must be fair – UK politics live

‘We want to see reform implemented with Labour values of fairness,’ the PM saysIn his final answer Starmer explained how he thought government and business should work together.A true partnership is not two people or two bodies trying to do the same thing. It’s two people or bodies realising they bring different things to the table.Government shouldn’t try to run businesses. It’s done that in the past and it doesn’t work particularly well. Continue reading...

Economics

29 h. ago 'The nuclear threat is growing': Keir Starmer warns of 'grim reality' of threat from Putin's Russia after Britons are told to 'actively prepare' for WAR

The Prime Minister faced MPs today after attending the Nato summit this week and the G7 leaders' meeting last week, where the war in Ukraine was one of the main topics of discussion.

Events

29 h. ago Keir Starmer confirms No 10 is offering concessions to Labour welfare rebels

PM says conversations over changes to bill will ‘continue in coming days’ with more than 120 MPs poised to rebelUK politics live – latest updatesKeir Starmer has confirmed Downing Street is offering concessions to rebel Labour MPs to get his welfare bill over the line.The prime minister told the Commons he wanted “values of fairness” to underpin the legislation so the government could “get this right” on fixing the broken benefits system. Continue reading...

Economics

30 h. ago Commons leader confirms vote on welfare bill will go ahead despite Labour rebellion – UK politics live

More than 120 Labour MPs are poised to rebel against the government on TuesdayIn his final answer Starmer explained how he thought government and business should work together.A true partnership is not two people or two bodies trying to do the same thing. It’s two people or bodies realising they bring different things to the table.Government shouldn’t try to run businesses. It’s done that in the past and it doesn’t work particularly well. Continue reading...

Politics

30 h. ago Incredible moment senior royal appears to mock Donald Trump on live TV

During his visit to the NATO summit at The Hague, Donald Trump met with King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima of the Netherlands - and many spotted a peculiar gesture by Maxima

Politics

32 h. ago White House marks Trump’s return from Nato summit with ‘daddy’ music video

The White House marked Donald Trump’s return from the Nato summit with a special “daddy” music video.

Politics

32 h. ago Minister says Labour’s welfare bill rebels ‘trying to do their job well’ as No 10 considers concessions – UK politics live

More than 120 Labour MPs are poised to rebel against the government on TuesdayStarmer starts by praising the contribution to the country made by business.None of the investment made by the government would be possible “without your contribution”, he says. “And I say thank you.” Continue reading...

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35 h. ago White House marks Trump's return from NATO summit with provocative Usher music video

The montage video came just hours after NATO chief Mark Rutte was forced to publicly backtrack on an embarrassing blunder in which he appeared to refer to Trump as 'daddy.'

Politics

43 h. ago Trump promises 'irrefutable' facts about Iran bombing to defend 'dignity of our great American pilots'

President Donald Trump has vowed the American public will hear 'irrefutable' facts about the success of the Iranian strikes as he mounts a defense of 'great American pilots' who carried out the mission.

Politics

44 h. ago CIA confirms level of damage to Iran nuclear sites as White House hunts classified leaker: NATO live

President Donald Trump is using his NATO trip to double down on his 'total obliteration' of Iran's nuclear sites and has blasted the media for reporting on an intelligence assessment that cast doubt on the matter.

Events

46 h. ago White House shares new evidence on leaked classified Iran bombing report as Trump leaves NATO: Live updates

President Donald Trump is using his NATO trip to double down on his 'total obliteration' of Iran's nuclear sites and has blasted the media for reporting on an intelligence assessment that cast doubt on the matter.

Events

47 h. ago Trump doubles down on Iran strikes and fights with reporters at NATO Summit warning 'Secretary of War' needed

President Donald Trump closed out his NATO trip in a combative mood, fighting with reporters, issuing a bleak warning for Iran and indicating that United States now needs a 'secretary of war.'

Events

47 h. ago Trump hails ‘big win’ as Nato states agree to raise defence spending to 5% of GDP

US president appears relaxed and reaffirms commitment to military alliance – though Spain criticisedA relaxed Donald Trump said Nato’s decision to increase defence spending to 5% of GDP was a “big win” for western civilisation in a digressive press conference at a summit in The Hague where he reaffirmed the US’s commitment to the military alliance.There was every sign that the careful setup of the summit – in which most allies in Europe and Canada committed billions more on defence – had worked to keep Trump bound in to the alliance, with the US president praising Mark Rutte, its secretary general, and a night where he “slept beautiful” in the Dutch king’s palace. Continue reading...

Politics

47 h. ago The Guardian view on the Nato summit: Europe must take the path of strategic self

Donald Trump upholds the alliance for now, but the era of confidence in US security guarantees is overThere is more to Nato than article 5 of its founding charter, but the alliance depends on that commitment to mutual assistance. Enemies are deterred because an attack on one is understood as an attack on all. That is why Donald Trump’s record of ambivalence has been so destabilising.Nato leaders, gathered for their annual summit in The Hague this week, were heartened to hear the US president say he is “with them all the way”. It was a stronger affirmation of the alliance’s purpose than the one he had given the previous day. Asked about his commitment to article 5, Mr Trump equivocated, saying: “It depends on your definition.”Do you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered for publication in our letters section, please click here. Continue reading...

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