85 m. ago Don’t sugarcoat this: Starmer’s government is weak and may perish. Here are my five steps to recovery | John McDonnell

After so many avoidable mistakes, of course people are angry. But with the far right looming, we need action not despairJohn McDonnell is the MP for Hayes and Harlington. He was shadow chancellor for Labour from 2015 to 2020The Labour party is facing one of the most dangerous moments in its history, possibly an existential threat. Not only is it adrift in the polls, losing one council byelection after another, and with a leader whose popularity has plummeted; but the main threat comes from the xenophobic hard right in the shape of Reform UK.Labour has to wake up to this threat and seize the moment. It must take five basic steps to recovery:John McDonnell is the MP for Hayes and Harlington. He was shadow chancellor for Labour from 2015 to 2020Sign up for our new weekly newsletter Matters of Opinion, where our columnists and writers will reflect on what they’ve been debating, thinking about, reading, and more Continue reading...

Politics

2 h. ago Health Secretary says high caffeine energy drinks same as ‘necking four cans of Coke’

Labour has launched 12-week consultation before high caffeine drinks are banned

Society

2 h. ago Jamaicans head to polls for election as ruling party faces corruption concerns

Polls point to ‘very close election’ between the Jamaica Labourparty and the opposition People’s National partyJamaicans head to the polls on Wednesday for a closely fought general election which has been overshadowed by an investigation into potential corruption in the ruling Jamaica Labour party (JLP) which is seeking a third term in office.The latest local poll put the opposition People’s National party (PNP) 3.1% lead over the JLP, but political analyst Damion Gordon cautioned that the lead was barely larger than the margin of error. Continue reading...

Politics

3 h. ago High caffeine energy drinks same as ‘necking four cans of Coke’ – Streeting

The Government has launched a 12-week consultation ahead of a ban on the sale of high caffeine energy drinks to under-16s.

Politics

4 h. ago Zack Polanski apologises over claim he can increase women’s breast sizes with his mind

Several Labour MPs have criticised the new Green Party leader over the claims, with one describing them as ‘grim’

Politics

5 h. ago Energy drinks crackdown sees Prime and Monster banned for under

Around 100,000 children are thought to consume at least one high-caffeine energy drink every day

Politics

5 h. ago Jamie Oliver hails ban on selling energy drinks to kids – 'they shouldn’t drink them'

Jamie Oliver says energy drinks are 'harmful and children shouldn’t be drinking them' after a win for his joint campaign with the Mirror to ban sales to under-16s

Politics

6 h. ago Energy drinks set to be banned in UK as Labour Party takes on major brands

The ban means selling high-caffeine energy drinks to anyone under 16 could be illegal – and popular drinks could be affected. Here is everything you need to know about the rules

Events

7 h. ago Labour has succeeded only in strengthening Farage. The way is now open for Zack Polanski’s Greens | George Monbiot

By caving to the hard right and corporate greed, Labour has left a gaping hole the new Green party leader is best placed to fillThere’s an obvious way to destroy Nigel Farage’s political momentum. A poll by the research group Persuasion UK, testing various messages, found that by far the most effective line of attack is highlighting his complicity with corporate interests. The message that hit hardest was that Farage’s real loyalties lie with “the rich, the powerful, his mates in big business”, and his “party” (actually a business called Reform 2025 Ltd) “has taken over £2m from fossil fuel lobbyists, polluters, and climate change deniers He’s not smashing the system. He and his rich friends basically are the system.”But this is a string Labour cannot yank, as it would pull its own roof down. If there is a defining mark of Keir Starmer’s administration, it is immediate capitulation to powerful lobby groups, especially corporations and billionaires. This is what explains the otherwis...

Politics

14 h. ago Appeals court allows Trump administration to end the ‘climate bank’ where $20B was set aside to fund climate change projects

Billions of dollars have been sitting in Citibank accounts since February amid the back-and-forth legal battle

Economics

16 h. ago Reform pledges to cut 'wasteful spending' in NHS and 'the nonsense' if it wins power in Wales

In an interview which was typically lacking in detail Richard Tice said 'back office' jobs needed to be cut in Wales to save money and his party would scrap Welsh Labour's 20mph policy

Politics

18 h. ago The Guardian view on Zack Polanski’s rise: he wants to replace Labour, not work with it | Editorial

A mass politics of anti-austerity, identity and climate is emerging from the left’s margins. Keir Starmer cannot afford to ignore itZack Polanski’s landslide election as leader of the Green party marks a turning point for Britain’s fractured left. Young, rhetorically fluent and unafraid to cloak climate arguments in those about class, Mr Polanski is nothing if not ambitious. He sees his party not as a parliamentary pressure group but as a replacement for Labour itself.His ascent might have seemed fanciful last July when Labour had just won a thumping majority. Yet Labour languishes in the polls. Sir Keir Starmer’s personal ratings have collapsed. On the extreme right Reform UK now boasts 237,000 members, 870 councillors, and 10 councils under its control. The Greens have more MPs than ever before. And the uneasy leadership team of Jeremy Corbyn and Zara Sultana is preparing to launch a new party to Labour’s left. This is no longer political noise at the margins. This is about t...

Politics

20 h. ago Met Office maps show exact time huge band of rain set to batter UK this week

A yellow rain warning has been issued by the Met Office affecting parts of the UK on Wednesday

Culture

21 h. ago New Green Party leader wants to ‘reclaim’ populism after landslide win

Zack Polanski warned Labour: ‘We are here to replace you.’

Politics

21 h. ago Voices: I’m a former Green Party leader – here’s what Zack should do next

Zack Polanski will need all of his obvious skill and genuine charm if we’re to broaden our grassroots appeal, says Caroline Lucas – and it’s early days to be talking about cooperating with Jeremy Corbyn’s party before it even has a name

Politics

22 h. ago Voices: I’m a former Green Party leader – here’s what Zack should (and shouldn’t ) do next

Zack Polanski will need all of his obvious skill and genuine charm if we are to win more seats under his leadership, says Caroline Lucas – but it would be folly to talk about co-operating with Jeremy Corbyn’s party before it even has a name

Politics

25 h. ago Green Party to shift leftwards after landslide win by new leader Zack Polanski

Mr Polanski could offer a fresh headache to Sir Keir Starmer’s Government from the political left.

Politics

26 h. ago Unlike Tory 'fantasies', this Labour government will ignore 'party politics' to achieve prosperous North Sea

UK energy minister Michael Shanks addresses the issue of the North Sea’s future.

Politics

26 h. ago Helldivers 2 patch notes for today's update reveal even more about what Into the Unjust has in store

Helldivers 2 has received its third major content update today with Into the Unjust, which sees players take the fight to the Terminid homeworld, and there's a lot to be excited about in the Helldivers 2 patch notes

Politics

31 h. ago Prime Minister Keir Starmer hits new record low as Britain turns on Labour Party

Keir Starmer's approval rating has hit a record low, a City AM/Freshwater Strategy poll has shown, as pressure mounts on the government ahead of the Budget

Politics