32 h. ago Angela Rayner's planning reforms will cover Britain in 'soulless settlements' of ugly houses, Tories warn as Starmer vows to use AI to speed up building

Shadow Housing Secretary Kevin Hollinrake warned that measures being championed by Angela Rayner would lead to increased urban sprawl of concrete houses.

Events

4 d. ago Elon Musk signals he may back down in public row with Donald Trump

SpaceX owner rows back on threat to decommission Dragon spacecraft after X user advises him to ‘cool off’US politics live – latest updatesElon Musk has suggested he may de-escalate his public row with Donald Trump after their spectacular falling out.The Tesla chief executive signalled he might back down on a pledge to decommission the Dragon spacecraft – made by his SpaceX business – in an exchange on his X social media platform. He also responded positively to a call from fellow multibillionaire Bill Ackman to “make peace” with the US president. Continue reading...

Politics

4 d. ago Major summer holiday update for Brits on when they can skip EU airport queues

Under the terms of the Labour Government's Brexit "reset" agreement with Brussels, talks are continuing on ways to "smooth border management" between the UK and EU

Politics

5 d. ago UK tourists to face major passport change at European holiday hotspot airport

The change follows the signing of a 'post-Brexit reset' deal by Sir Keir Starmer last month

Society

8 d. ago Border checks on fruit and vegetable imports from EU scrapped

The Government has said Sir Keir Starmer’s Brexit reset deal will stop the proposed controls coming into force on July 1.

Politics

8 d. ago It’s showtime in Andalucía! How I found my voice on a musical theatre retreat

With tuition from West End pros, this week-long singing break in southern Spain hits all the right notes‘Do you prefer alto or soprano?” asks Steve Moss, poised at his electric piano. My mind goes blank. I’m usually more of a pinot grigio girl, but that’s not the answer the former musical director of Les Misérables is looking for. Although I struggle to carry a tune in a bucket, I’m an enthusiastic karaoke singer, a big musical theatre fan and a shameless show-off, so Sing the Greatest Showman, a residential singing retreat in Spain, is right up my street.Founded by Zane Rambaran, a veteran concert promoter with his roots in musical theatre, Sing Eat Retreat offers a choice of breaks here throughout the year (from Sing Les Mis to Sing Mamma Mia), with 30  hours of tuition by West End professionals. (In October, Sing The Sound of Music will be held in Salzburg too, with guests recording tracks in a studio and performing in the actual movie locations. I’ve already packe...

Culture

1 week ago New F1 wing rules are talk of pit lane in Spain but McLaren still out in front

Rules intended to close gap between the best driversMcLaren’s Oscar Piastri leading after second practiceAll the talk in Spain this week has been about the potential impact of the FIA’s clampdown on the flexing of front wings and the governing body’s hope this might close up the pecking order on the grid. Certainly those chasing the dominant McLaren were optimistic that might be the case.The technical regulation was imposed as teams look to push the boundaries of the rules, with a flex in the wing under load affording the maximum downforce in corners. In order to maintain a level playing field, the wings must now pass a deflection test measuring the leeway of their flex. This has been reduced from 15mm to 10mm. Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago New Spain heatwave maps turn red as Brit tourists warned to expect 34C blast

Intense temperatures climbing up to 38C in parts of Spain are set to sizzle pasty Brits over the next week, according to red weather maps from WXCharts and The Met Office forecast

Events

2 w. ago From the day Britain left the EU, this reset was inevitable. What a pointless waste of time, money and effort | Simon Jenkins

Keir Starmer is not blameless when it comes to Brexit, but he is moving in the right direction. Even the Tories attacking him know thatFor the Tories to attack Keir Starmer’s first step towards a Brexit reset is monumental hypocrisy. Their Brexit led to £4.7bn being spent on implementing post-EU border arrangements, according to the National Audit Office, including a vastly expensive “take back control” border post at Sevington in Kent. No other country in the world can have erected such ludicrous barriers against its biggest trading partners. All are now wasted. At least the nonsense can stop. Memorial plaques to Boris Johnson should be pinned to their gates and passersby invited to sign a 50-page customs form in his memory.Meanwhile, Starmer should hang his own head in shame. He was Jeremy Corbyn’s Brexit henchman back in 2019, when Labour voted down Theresa May’s bid to negotiate a soft Brexit deal that would certainly have gone beyond what was signed this week. It was Starmer wh...

Politics

2 w. ago Spain delivers ANOTHER blow to British holidaymakers by blocking cheap data roaming in Europe as part of Brexit reset deal

Millions of Brits visit Spain and Italy every year, with UK tourism significantly boosting the country's local economy.

Economics

2 w. ago UK politics live: Starmer vows EU deal will end ‘huge’ passport queues and Farage misses Brexit reset debate

Sir Keir Starmer pledged that his trade deal with the EU would ‘cut the price of the weekly shop’ and provide stability for the fishing industry

Politics

3 w. ago Nigel Farage admits he's skipping the Commons this week as he's on HOLIDAY

The Reform UK leader - who is reported to be in France - was forced to admit he is away from Westminster after facing growing questions over his absence.

Politics

3 w. ago Wrong to call EU UK 'Brexit reset' trade deal a 'surrender', SNP's Stephen Flynn says

The Prime Minister updated MPs on the details of the EU UK ‘reset’ deal on Tuesday

Economics

3 w. ago Keir Starmer says Brits are 'tired' of Brexit rows as he faces backlash over 'blank cheque' EU deal

Making a statement to MPs, Keir Starmer argued that the package he unveiled alongside beaming EU commission chief Ursula von der Leyen would 'drive down bills and drive up jobs'.

Economics

3 w. ago Minister risks wrath of fishing industry as he claims there is 'no downside' to Brexit 'reset'

Environment Secretary Steve Reed mounted a robust defence of the package as he appeared before MPs, despite fury at the 'disastrous' terms.

Politics

3 w. ago BREAKING: Keir Starmer gives major statement to MPs after huge Brexit reboot

Prime Minister Keir Starmer will give a major statement to MPs in the Commons today after signing a deal with the EU to reset Brexit - but he is facing criticism from some parties

Politics

3 w. ago Tories mock Keir Starmer's 'bogus' claim that his Brexit 'reset' deal will allow Brits to use e

The Prime Minister boasted his agreement with Brussels, signed yesterday, would end 'huge queues' for holidaymakers at passport control in Europe.

Economics

3 w. ago UK politics live: Reeves eyes fresh trade deal after striking EU Brexit reset pact

The chancellor is hoping an agreement can be secured with countries such as Qatar and Saudi Arabia

Politics

3 w. ago UK politics live: Reeves eyes trade deal with Gulf countries after striking EU Brexit reset pact

The chancellor is hoping an agreement can be secured with countries such as Qatar and Saudi Arabia

Politics

3 w. ago Reeves eyes Gulf trade pact as UK government’s ‘next deal’ after EU summit – business live

China’s and Australia’s central banks cut interest ratesRachel Reeves said the UK government is closing in on a trade pact with six Gulf nations, including Qatar and Saudi Arabia, as its next major deal.The chancellor told the BBC the agreement would be the government’s “next deal” as it looks to boost trade ties following Brexit.Britain is in a better place than any other country in the world in terms of deals with those countries.The first deal and the best deal so far with the US, we’ve got the best deal with the EU for any country outside the EU, and we’ve got the best trade agreement with India.We are not going to litigate old arguments, we are going to go forward in the spirit of what we do together, we do better.This deal will mean Britain becoming a rule-taker, accepting dynamic alignment, giving up fishing rights and paying new money to the EU. Nobody has lost more than the fishermen. Continue reading...

Politics