54 m. ago Nation unites in a day of reflection to mark fifth anniversary of Covid

Hundreds of events were hosted where the pain, grief, compassion and sacrifice of those difficult times was remembered.

Politics

2 h. ago Minister says Labour ‘won’t take a chainsaw to the civil service’ amid cuts backlash

The man described as ‘Keir Starmer’s unofficial deputy prime minister’ insists he has not set targets in slashing the number of civil servants as he unveils reforms

Politics

3 h. ago Countries cannot be ‘dragooned’ into coalition of the willing, says McFadden

Pat McFadden has said that nations have to step forward themselves’.

Politics

7 h. ago Revealed: What Trump said in 'strop' when he saw photo of King Charles with Zelensky

Pictures of the King with Ukranian leader Volodymyr Zelensky made President Trump feel 'less special' about the monarch's invitation for a state visit to Britain, handed to him by Sir Keir Starmer last week.

Politics

9 h. ago After 80 years of transatlantic ties, Europe forges a new alliance

Germany, France and UK sweep away old rules in pledge to do ‘whatever it takes’ to defend Europe from Russian threatWhen he rose to his feet at prime minister’s questions on Wednesday, Keir Starmer delivered a stirring tribute to six British soldiers who lost their lives in Afghanistan 13 years ago.He read out their names very deliberately, one by one. The House was silent. The prime minister then added a tribute to a 22-year-old British Royal Marine, also killed on 6 March, but in 2007 in Helmand province. Continue reading...

Politics

9 h. ago From Trump whisperer to trouble – angry Reform UK MPs turn on Farage

Internal row in party over ‘messianic’ leader becomes public amid competing members’ allegations of bullying and dirty tricksJust a few short weeks ago, Nigel Farage’s Reform party was riding high. It was consistently polling above Kemi Badenoch’s Conservative party and in some surveys had even edged ahead of the Labour government.Donors who had previously handed over large amounts to the Tories were switching sides, while Farage was relishing having the ear of US president Donald Trump, touting himself as a far better representative to the leader of the free world than Keir Starmer. Continue reading...

Politics

14 h. ago 'I don't feel so special any more': Trump's sulky strop over King Charles' public love

Pictures of the King with Ukranian leader Volodymyr Zelensky made President Trump feel 'less special' about the monarch's invitation for a state visit to Britain, handed to him by Sir Keir Starmer last week.

Politics

14 h. ago Civil servants 'will be paid to quit' under plans to save costs as Keir Starmer wages war on The Blob

The Prime Minister is set to unveil proposals to sack under-performing mandarins as well as link the pay of some top officials to specific work targets.

Events

18 h. ago Keir Starmer’s poll ratings leap after Trump withdraws support for Ukraine

Around 30% of voters say they prefer Labour for dealing with ‘allies against threats to the UK’ in boost to party leaderKeir Starmer’s approval ratings have shot up since Donald Trump returned to the White House and shocked Europe by withdrawing political and military support for Ukraine, according to the latest Opinium poll for the Observer.Starmer’s Labour government as a whole has also gained public support for its response to the global turbulence caused by Trump’s return – on security and economic issues. His personal ratings have risen by 10% – albeit from an alarmingly low point – compared with a month ago. Continue reading...

Politics

22 h. ago Voices: Reform’s implosion makes a second term for Keir Starmer more likely

Nigel Farage’s party may have been the main threat to a continued Labour government – but the split in his own ranks, combined with Starmer’s newfound popularity, means he’s on shaky ground, writes John Rentoul

Politics

26 h. ago Keir Starmer shares message to daughter on International Women’s Day

The Prime Minister said that he does his job for her ‘and your generation’, in a post on Instagram.

Politics

29 h. ago The English city where a staggeringly high percentage of women are married to their cousins

Former Conservative minister Richard Holden's Marriage (Prohibited Degrees of Relationship) Bill is due to return before the House of Commons on Friday and seeks to outlaw first cousin marriage.

Politics

36 h. ago Sir Keir Starmer praises 'phenomenal courage' of Eli Sharabi as he meets freed Israeli hostage whose wife and two daughters were killed in Hamas' October 7 attack

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has promised to 'redouble' the UK's efforts in helping secure the safe release of hostages after meeting with freed Israeli Eli Sharabi at Downing Street on Friday morning.

Events

39 h. ago British fashion creators accuse Chinese retail giant Shein of using AI 'to copy and steal' clothing designs as they fear industry could be destroyed under Keir Starmer's copyright exceptions

EXCLUSIVE: British fashion is under threat from artificial intelligence that can identify popular products and flood the market with cheap copies, designers have warned.

Events

41 h. ago ‘Desperate’ son of jailed activist Jimmy Lai seeks meeting with Keir Starmer

Hong Kong journalist is 77, and worries about his health are mounting as his trial nears its endThe son of the jailed Hong Kong media mogul Jimmy Lai has called for an urgent meeting with the UK prime minister, Keir Starmer, saying he was “desperate” as his father’s defence drew to a close in a high-profile trial.Sebastien Lai said a fresh diplomatic push was now needed to free the 77-year-old pro-democracy activist, who holds British citizenship and has been kept behind bars in Hong Kong since December 2020. Continue reading...

Events

41 h. ago ‘Desperate’ son of Hong Kong’s jailed Jimmy Lai seeks meeting with Keir Starmer

Worries mount for health of media mogul and pro-democracy activist, 77, as his trial nears endThe son of the jailed Hong Kong media mogul Jimmy Lai has called for an urgent meeting with the UK prime minister, Keir Starmer, saying he was “desperate” as his father’s defence drew to a close in a high-profile trial.Sebastien Lai said a fresh diplomatic push was now needed to free the 77-year-old pro-democracy activist, who holds British citizenship and has been kept behind bars in Hong Kong since December 2020. Continue reading...

Events

41 h. ago Starmer and Macron discuss work for Ukraine peace as PM hails EU defence move

The two leaders have been leading efforts to draw together a ‘coalition of the willing’ to help Kyiv.

Politics

46 h. ago Starmer hails ‘historic step forward’ after EU defence talks

The Prime Minister also welcomed the prospect of peace talks next week in Saudi Arabia.

Events

47 h. ago Fact check: New sentencing guidelines were written by independent body

The guidelines say courts should always order a pre-sentence report when considering a prison term ‘unless it considers that it is unnecessary’.

Politics

48 h. ago Donald Trump gives me hope my father will be released, Jimmy Lai’s son says

Mr Trump claimed last year he would ‘100 per cent’ get the 77-year-old pro-democracy activist out of prison

Politics