6 h. ago David Lammy ducks over whether UK supports US bombing of Iran... as he claims the government was NOT given legal advice on joining action

Foreign Secretary David Lammy urged Tehran to 'take the off ramp' of negotiations as he made a statement in the Commons on the burgeoning crisis in the Middle East.

Politics

29 h. ago US request to UK over Iran would have raised legal questions, ex

Peter Ricketts says US likely to have decided it was better not to ask, after minister says no request was madeMiddle East crisis – latest updatesThe US did not ask to use UK airbases to support its overnight bombing of Iran because that would have required British ministers to take a view on the legality of the attack, according to a former government adviser.Peter Ricketts, a former UK national security chief, said he believed the US had concluded it was better not to ask to launch B-2 bombers from the RAF base on Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean than to be told no. Continue reading...

Politics

40 h. ago Trump news at a glance: President praises attacks on Iran as lawmakers divided on US involvement

Trump calls attacks on Iranian nuclear sites a success, but some US lawmakers immediately called the attack unconstitutional. Key US politics stories from Saturday 21 JuneWashington was in a flurry late on Saturday as Donald Trump announced that the US had completed strikes on three nuclear sites in Iran, directly joining Israel’s effort to destroy the country’s nuclear program.American politicians reacted to the news of the US bombing of nuclear targets in Iran with a mix of cheering support and instant condemnation, reflecting deep divisions in the country, as Washington grapples with yet another military intervention overseas. Continue reading...

Politics

44 h. ago Cheering support and instant condemnation: US lawmakers respond to attack on Iran

Ro Khanna and Bernie Sanders denounced the decision to launch attack, while most Republicans praised the actionUS strikes Iran – follow it liveAmerican politicians reacted to the news of the US bombing of nuclear targets in Iran with a mix of cheering support and instant condemnation, reflecting deep divisions in the country that cross party lines as Washington grapples with yet another military intervention overseas.Donald Trump announced on Saturday night that the US had completed strikes on three nuclear sites in Iran, directly joining Israel’s effort this month to destroy the country’s nuclear program. Continue reading...

Events

4 d. ago What are the legal issues around Britain helping Trump bomb Iran?

Keir Starmer is weighing up whether to back the US and – as a lawyer – will be aware of the legal landscapeMiddle East crisis – live updatesUK politics live – latest updatesAs Keir Starmer considers whether Britain should support the US if Donald Trump decides to bomb Iran, the attorney general, Richard Hermer, has reportedly warned him that UK involvement could be illegal. The prime minister was an outspoken opponent of the Iraq war when he was a human rights lawyer in 2003 and will be well aware of the thorny legal issues around engagement in strikes against Iran. Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago New Zealand government sued over ‘dangerously inadequate’ emissions reduction plan

Exclusive: In the first legal challenge to the plan, top climate lawyers claim the government relies too heavily on forestry and failed to consult the publicHundreds of top environment lawyers are suing the New Zealand government over what they say is its “dangerously inadequate” plan to reduce emissions to net zero by 2050.It is the first time the country’s emissions reduction plan has faced litigation, and the lawyers believe it is the first case globally that challenges the use of forestry to offset emissions. Continue reading...

Politics