26 h. ago The Labour 'civil war' fuelling Angela Rayner sleaze crisis amid bitter infighting over who should succeed Keir Starmer

Shadow Cabinet minister Alex Burghart said it was 'very likely' damaging information about Ms Rayner's (pictured) personal life and tax affairs is being leaked by Labour rivals.

Events

27 h. ago The Labour 'civil war' fueling Angela Rayner sleaze crisis amid bitter infighting over who should succeed Keir Starmer

Shadow Cabinet minister Alex Burghart said it was 'very likely' damaging information about Ms Rayner's (pictured) personal life and tax affairs is being leaked by Labour rivals.

Events

36 h. ago Angela Rayner sleaze crisis is being fuelled by Labour 'civil war' over who should succeed Keir Starmer, Tories claim

Shadow Cabinet minister Alex Burghart said it was 'very likely' damaging information about Ms Rayner's (pictured) personal life and tax affairs is being leaked by Labour rivals.

Events

43 h. ago Houthis detain at least one UN worker in raids on two agencies in Sana’a

Iran-backed group’s security forces raid offices of World Food Programme and Unicef in Yemen’s capitalThe Iranian-backed Houthis have raided offices of the United Nations’ food and children’s agencies in Yemen’s capital, detaining at least one UN employee, officials said, as the rebels tightened security across Sana’a after Israel’s killing of their prime minister and several cabinet members.Abeer Etefa, a spokesperson for the World Food Programme, said security forces raided the agencies’ offices in the Houthi-controlled capital on Sunday morning. “WFP reiterates that the arbitrary detention of humanitarian staff is unacceptable,” Etefa said. Continue reading...

Politics

43 h. ago Houthis detain at least 11 UN workers in raids on two agencies in Sana’a

UN condemns ‘arbitrary detentions’ by Iran-backed group at World Food Programme and Unicef offices in Yemen’s capitalThe Iranian-backed Houthis raided offices of the UN’s food, health and children’s agencies in Yemen’s capital, detaining at least 11 employees, as the rebels tightened security across Sana’a after the Israeli killing of their prime minister and several cabinet members.The UN envoy for Yemen, Hans Grundberg, said on Sunday evening: “I strongly condemn the new wave of arbitrary detentions of UN personnel today in Sana’a and Hodeidah ... as well as the forced entry into UN premises and seizure of UN property. At least 11 UN personnel were detained.” Continue reading...

Politics

47 h. ago Reform UK accused by Cabinet minister of ‘whipping up anger’ over asylum hotels

But deputy leader Richard Tice said it is ‘ridiculous’ to suggest Reform has encouraged the violent scenes at some protests.

Politics

50 h. ago Farage and Reform ‘whipping up anger’ on migrants, cabinet minister warns

Education secretary Bridget Phillipson claimed Mr Farage has ‘no interest’ in finding solutions to the migrant crisis and small boats

Events

5 d. ago Ukraine war briefing: Zelenskyy picks Olha Stefanishyna as ambassador to US

Ukrainian officials due in Washington on Friday; Russians short of fuel as oil refineries burn. What we know on day 1,282Volodymyr Zelenskyy has appointed Olha Stefanishyna, a former top cabinet minister, as Ukraine’s ambassador to the US, ending months of speculation. She takes over as ambassador from Oksana Markarova, who held the position for six years, including more than three years of full-scale war with Russia, and became a target for partisan criticism from Republicans. It was announced in July that Markarova would be replaced. Stefanishyna served in Zelenskyy’s administration as a deputy prime minister for European and Euro-Atlantic integration, playing a major role in the country’s integration into western institutions, and as minister of justice.Zelenskyy announced his officials will meet US counterparts in New York on Friday as the Ukrainian president continues to push for a one-on-one meeting with Vladimir Putin despite Kremlin refusals. “Friday, meetings will take plac...

Politics

5 d. ago The Guardian view on UK attitudes to Europe: Labour is following where it could be leading | Editorial

There are signs of ministerial courage in making the case for closer ties to our neighbours, but the government could go further and fasterBritain’s relationship with the European Union was not a prominent issue in national debate when Sir Keir Starmer became prime minister, and Downing Street has striven to keep it that way. Labour strategists have seen Europe as a fissile topic, and Sir Keir’s opposition to Brexit in the 2016 referendum as a liability with swing voters. The prime minister has moved Britain closer to Europe, but in timid increments. The summit that formally “reset” relations early this year was long on statements of ambition, but short on substance. The government’s private recognition that economic logics impel Britain back into a European orbit has been in constant tension with fear of making that case in public.The balance now appears to be shifting. In a speech on Wednesday, Nick Thomas-Symonds, the Cabinet Office minister responsible for EU relations, made the...

Politics

5 d. ago Critics of closer trading alignment with EU seem to be losing their voice

Labour’s support for ‘dynamic alignment’ with Europe and a youth mobility scheme has gone unchallenged by Gove – and FarageAsked in 2020 whether the UK would accept aligning with EU business regulations, Michael Gove, the then Cabinet Office minister, said bluntly: “We will not trade away our sovereignty.”Sitting next to his Labour successor, Nick Thomas-Symonds, on Wednesday, the now editor of the Spectator was more circumspect. Continue reading...

Politics

5 d. ago Garage staff tried to stop petrol thief so he threatened to stab them with a screwdriver

One said later that if the same thing happened again he wouldn't challenge a driver stealing petrol as 'I would rather lose out on wages than risk my life'

Events

5 d. ago Starmer’s EU negotiator gives stronger backing to youth mobility scheme

Nick Thomas-Symonds indicates closer ties with Europe in future and promises to agree agriculture dealUK politics live – latest updatesKeir Starmer’s lead negotiator on Europe has enthused about how excited he is by the prospect of an EU youth mobility scheme, as he signalled a broader government shift towards embracing closer ties with the bloc.Nick Thomas-Symonds, the Cabinet Office minister in charge of negotiating Britain’s relationship with the EU, said on Wednesday he was looking forward to signing a deal to let young people travel and work more freely across Europe. Continue reading...

Politics

6 d. ago Government aims for permanent food and drink deal with EU as it attacks Farage

It came as Cabinet Office minister Nick Thomas-Symonds is to accuse Reform UK leader Nigel Farage of wanting to see British businesses fail.

Politics

6 d. ago Fiery protests in Israel pictured amid demands for hostage release deal

Protesters in Israel were seen blocking highways and burning tires as they demanded Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his security cabinet commit to meaningful ceasefire talks

Economics

9 d. ago Eleven cabinet ministers at risk of losing seats as Corbyn's new party threatens to split vote

The Mail on Sunday understands that Mr Corbyn's new movement has already reached more than 700,000 'sign-ups' - nearly double the size of Labour's membership.

Politics

1 week ago Swinney has ‘no intention’ of reshuffling Scottish cabinet before May election

First Minister John Swinney said he would not change his cabinet team, despite a number of members confirming they will not run next year.

Politics

2 w. ago House of Lords 'doesn't need more Putin apologists like Nigel Farage', says Cabinet minister as Labour sparks furious row by shutting down Reform UK's demand for peerages

John Healey, the Defence Secretary, sparked a furious political row as he referred to Mr Farage's past comments about the Russian leader.

Politics

3 w. ago Netanyahu defends Gaza City plan as UN warns of ‘calamity’ and starvation

Israeli PM says taking over city is ‘best way’ to end war, despite condemnation from within Israel and around worldMiddle East crisis – live updatesBenjamin Netanyahu has defended his plan to take control of Gaza City in the face of widespread international outrage, even as senior UN officials warned that the move risked unleashing “another calamity” on a territory already experiencing “starvation, pure and simple”.In a rare press conference with foreign journalists in Jerusalem, the Israeli prime minister said the plan, signed off last week by the security cabinet to criticism both at home and abroad, was “the best way to end the war and the best way to end it speedily.” Continue reading...

Events

3 w. ago John Swinney's 'completely unacceptable' comment over Gaza City occupation plan under Benjamin Netanyahu

John Swinney and Sir Keir Starmer have both spoken out about the decisions taken by Israel’s war cabinet under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Events

3 w. ago Netanyahu announces plan to take over Gaza City in further escalation

Proposal that needs to be approved by full cabinet would mean sending Israeli ground troops into remaining territoryMiddle East crisis – live updatesIsrael’s security cabinet has approved a plan to take over Gaza City, prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office has said, marking another escalation in the 22-month offensive that has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians, destroyed most of Gaza and pushed the territory into famine.Ahead of the security cabinet meeting, which began Thursday and ran through the night, Netanyahu had said Israel planned to retake control over the entire territory and eventually hand it off to friendly Arab forces opposed to Hamas. Continue reading...

Politics