8 h. ago France has survived revolutions and wars: its crisis now is deep, but not terminal | David A Bell

From the raid on the Louvre to the spectacle of Sarkozy in jail, it is tempting to think France is on a downward spiral. But history tells the tale of its resilienceIn the classic dinner-party scene in the film Notting Hill, Tim McInnerney’s character promises a brownie to “the saddest act here”. In response, the guests (including the glamorous movie star played by Julia Roberts) try to outdo each other with tales of their painful suffering and pathetic failures.In our gloomy autumn of 2025, western democracies could play quite a convincing version of this game. There is the depressed United Kingdom, where Keir Starmer’s approval ratings have fallen to record lows and Reform leads in the polls. There is the deeply broken United States, where a supine opposition seems incapable of preventing Donald Trump from chopping away one guardrail after another of our constitutional order. There is Spain, where this summer a Socialist party scandal threatened to topple the fragile minority gove...

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16 h. ago Starmer warns allies must speed up use of frozen Russian assets to fund weapons for Ukraine as Zelensky warns Putin's brutal attacks are creating a 'humanitarian disaster'

Sir Keir said allies should step up the provision of weapons as winter approaches and its energy infrastructure remains under threat from attacks by Moscow.

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3 d. ago Universities warn Starmer: Evacuate Gaza scholarship students now or they will lose their place

Exclusive: Senior leaders at several top UK universities have written to the PM to warn that a failure to evacuate students by Sunday will see them miss out

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4 d. ago We must turn Labour around, deputy leadership frontrunner warns Starmer as she hits out at ‘mistakes’

Exclusive: Frontrunner for deputy leadership takes aim at PM over ‘mis-steps and mistakes’, saying she was sacked for opposing cuts and that the party must reconnect with lost voters - but not by copying Reform

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4 d. ago John Swinney warns blocking Chinese wind investment would be 'setback' for Scotland

John Swinney has defending meeting Ming Yang to lobby for investment in Scotland, despite national security concerns.

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4 d. ago John Swinney says blocking Chinese wind investment would be 'setback' for Scotland

John Swinney has defending meeting Ming Yang to lobby for investment in Scotland, despite national security concerns.

Politics

5 d. ago Neil Kinnock gives Keir Starmer warning and hits out at Labour's 'basic errors'

Neil Kinnock, who led the Labour Party between 1983 and 1992, said he had 'reservations' about some of Mr Starmer's aides in Downing Street and 'basic political skills'

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8 d. ago Furious China threatens Britain with 'consequences' after Labour delays approval of new London 'super

Beijing wants to create a huge diplomatic headquarters on an historic site near the City of London despite opposition from campaigners and local communities.

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8 d. ago China vents fury at Labour for delaying approval of new London 'super

Beijing wants to create a huge diplomatic headquarters on an historic site near the City of London despite opposition from campaigners and local communities.

Politics

1 week ago The crisis engulfing Emmanuel Macron contains a warning for Keir Starmer | Rafael Behr

The French president dominated the centre ground but has failed to build a legacy there. Labour is in danger of doing the sameBritain and France do not share a fixed quota of political stability such that reduced volatility on one side of the Channel causes chaos across the water. It was just a coincidence that Keir Starmer won a huge majority at precisely the moment last July when legislative elections made France ungovernable for Emmanuel Macron.It was a misfortune for both men, and for Europe, that their political trajectories were out of sync. Macron had dealt with four Tory prime ministers before finding a potential ally in the ascendant Labour leader. By then his presidency was in spiralling decline. Britain was rousing itself from Brexit delirium just as France was losing the plot.Rafael Behr is a Guardian columnist Continue reading...

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2 w. ago Keir Starmer's cabinet warned not to use emergency cash to fund public sector pay rises

No10 described the clampdown on the use of the government's reserve funds ahead of next month's Budget as "tough but prudent"

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3 w. ago Zack Polanski warns Keir Starmer’s Britain is descending into authoritarianism

The politician is pitching the Green Party as a left-wing alternative for disgruntled Labour voters

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3 w. ago Laura Loomer wastes no time politicizing antisemitic murders in UK: ‘President Trump warned you, Keir Starmer’

British prime minister has said the man who killed two people at a synagogue in Manchester targeted ‘Jews because they are Jews’

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3 w. ago Manchester synagogue latest: Starmer warns UK faces ‘rising tide’ of antisemitism after two killed in terror attack

Police have confirmed two members of the Jewish community have died following car and knife attack on Yom Kippur, the holiest day on the Jewish calendar

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3 w. ago Starmer issues benefits warning for young people with mental illnesses

The prime minister said he was concerned that young people on benefits could end up on welfare for life

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3 w. ago Starmer issues benefit warning for young people with mental illnesses

The Prime Minister said he was concerned that young people on benefits could end up on welfare for life

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3 w. ago Starmer warns courts MUST get tougher on asylum claims with threat of 'summary execution' a genuine reason but worse healthcare not enough

Keir Starmer said there was need to 'look again' at the interpretation of the European Convention on Human Rights, as well as other international treaties.

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3 w. ago Labour Party Conference 2025: Keir Starmer takes swipe at Nigel Farage as he warns of battle for 'soul' of divided Britain

The Prime Minister says Nigel Farage ‘doesn’t believe in Britain’ and takes aim at ‘politics of grievance’

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3 w. ago Labour conference: Sir Keir Starmer says Nigel Farage 'doesn't like Britain' as he warns country faces choice of 'decency or division'

LIVE UPDATES: Follow the latest developments from the Labour Party conference in Liverpool where Sir Keir Starmer will make his keynote address as he bids to boost his ailing premiership.

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3 w. ago Labour conference live: Public can’t trust Farage with the NHS, Streeting warns before Starmer unveils reforms

The prime minister is expected to use his annual address to expand his attacks on Reform UK

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