4 h. ago Trump administration will provide half of usual funds to Snap recipients in November

Contingency funds will keep benefits going for nearly 42 million people in the food assistance program, Trump saysUS politics live – latest updatesThe Trump administration said it would provide partial relief to recipients of food stamps on Monday as the federal government shutdown approached a record-breaking length.Amid mounting uncertainty among the nearly 42 million people on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (Snap), the Department of Agriculture said it would use contingency funds to keep benefits going, albeit just 50% of the usual funds recipients receive on their cards. Continue reading...

Politics

5 h. ago Trump administration will partially fund SNAP benefits in November: Live updates

Trump’s Agriculture Department initially said they could pay SNAP benefits in November due to a ‘legal’ issue - though two federal judges disagreed

Politics

5 h. ago MPs spar over response to Cambridgeshire train attack – UK politics live

Lib Dem spokesperson says Reform ‘trying to exploit incident for political gain’ and shadow home secretary’s remarks are ‘beneath contempt’Farage is speaking now. He says another “depressing budget hoves into view”. It will be a budget that “doesn’t have the guts to cut public spending”.He says Britain has been living under an illusion.I think for some years we’ve actually been living under an illusion. We’ve not been prepared to face up to just how much of an economic mess we genuinely in.As we slipped down the global league tables, we kid ourselves that it’s OK, we’ve got GDP growth. Continue reading...

Politics

7 h. ago Farage accused of betraying pensioners after triple lock hint in speech Tories say was rambling and incoherent – UK politics live

Reform leader refuses to commit to keeping mechanism that guarantees how pensions are increasedFarage is speaking now. He says another “depressing budget hoves into view”. It will be a budget that “doesn’t have the guts to cut public spending”.He says Britain has been living under an illusion.I think for some years we’ve actually been living under an illusion. We’ve not been prepared to face up to just how much of an economic mess we genuinely in.As we slipped down the global league tables, we kid ourselves that it’s OK, we’ve got GDP growth. Continue reading...

Politics

7 h. ago Trump threatens to withhold federal funds from New York if Mamdani wins mayor’s race: Live updates

New York City mayoral election is one of several closely-watched races that will provide insight into how voters are responding to Trump’s agenda

Politics

8 h. ago Farage accused of betraying pensioners but praised for ‘fiscal discipline’ after triple lock hint – politics live

Reform leader refuses to commit to keeping mechanism that guarantees how pensions are increasedFarage is speaking now. He says another “depressing budget hoves into view”. It will be a budget that “doesn’t have the guts to cut public spending”.He says Britain has been living under an illusion.I think for some years we’ve actually been living under an illusion. We’ve not been prepared to face up to just how much of an economic mess we genuinely in.As we slipped down the global league tables, we kid ourselves that it’s OK, we’ve got GDP growth. Continue reading...

Politics

9 h. ago Nigel Farage 'to betray pensioners' with response to state pension triple lock

Nigel Farage and Reform were branded 'vultures' who would betray pensioners and bring in a new era of austerity after a major speech in the City of London when previous tax plans were axed

Politics

10 h. ago Trump ramps up filibuster pressure on Republicans as shutdown threatens to become longest ever: Live updates

President Donald Trump reiterates demand for solution to government shutdown ahead of crucial Tuesday elections in many states that will provide telling early verdict on his policy agenda

Events

10 h. ago US government shutdown nearing record for longest in history as Trump delays food benefits to millions – US politics live

Republicans claim US president ‘desperate’ to end shutdown, which has now entered 33rd dayDonald Trump has said he feels bad for the British royal family after King Charles stripped his brother Andrew of his title as prince amid the continuing fallout over Andrew’s connections with the late, convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.Speaking to reporters on board Air Force One on Sunday evening, Trump was asked about King Charles’s decision to strip his brother of his peerages and the title of prince. Continue reading...

Politics

10 h. ago Farage claims Brexit opportunities have been ‘squandered’ and says he wants as many rich people as possible in the UK – politics live

Reform UK leader says he expects Labour to be forced into an austerity budget before the next electionFarage is speaking now. He says another “depressing budget hoves into view”. It will be a budget that “doesn’t have the guts to cut public spending”.He says Britain has been living under an illusion.I think for some years we’ve actually been living under an illusion. We’ve not been prepared to face up to just how much of an economic mess we genuinely in.As we slipped down the global league tables, we kid ourselves that it’s OK, we’ve got GDP growth. Continue reading...

Politics

12 h. ago Trump battles shutdown filibuster as millions prepare to vote in New York and California ballots: Live updates

President Donald Trump reiterates demand for solution to government shutdown ahead of crucial Tuesday elections in many states that will provide telling early verdict on his policy agenda

Politics

12 h. ago Labour says Farage would revive austerity as he prepares to set out economic vision in speech – UK politics live

Reform UK leader expected to promise deregulation and spending cuts as Labour and Conservatives attack policiesThe Tories claim Reform UK are “leftwing” partly on the basis of Nigel Farage’s welfare policies. In particular, in their briefing overnight (see 9.34am), the Tories backed this up by saying that they would cut welfare spending by £23bn, when Reform’s plans (so far) only add up to £9bn, and that Farage would abolish the two-child benefit cap (but only for British parents working full-time, Politico reports).The “leftwing” description is even harder to sustain in the light of this report for Politico by Dan Bloom about Reform’s economic plans.Let’s be clear, we’ve said we don’t guarantee it. Everything’s up for review, because nothing’s affordable if we keep spending more than we’re earning. And we’ve said that consistently if we the country go bust, which is the direction of travel we’re heading, one way or the other, nothing’s affordable.You’re not asking about the much, m...

Politics

34 h. ago Second BBC Scotland presenter taken off air amid live broadcast claim

Andrew Black was reportedly removed from presenting only days after veteran broadcaster Kaye Adams was taken off her radio programme.

Society

69 h. ago As populist insurgents take power across the globe, ANDREW NEIL examines the dire plight of the mainstream Right

We live in a political age in which the 'unlikely' increasingly becomes the 'likely', with a rapidity similar to Hemingway's description of going bankrupt - gradually, then suddenly... very suddenly.

Politics

3 d. ago Judge rules Trump can’t require citizenship proof on federal voting form – US politics live

Federal judge says Trump’s directive is an unconstitutional violation of the separation of powersUS House Speaker Mike Johnson reiterated this morning that he will not bring the chamber back into session until the government shutdown ends.Speaking to Fox News on Friday, Johnson said: “We are anxious to get the house back to regular legislative session, but we have to get the lights turned back on. Chuck Schumer and the Democrats in the Senate have got to reopen the government. Again, it’s the most fundamental responsibility of congress is to have the government operate and work for the people. That’s the number one priority right now and we cannot deviate from that.” Continue reading...

Politics

3 d. ago Trump updates: President shuts down hope of trade talks with Canada after Reagan ad

Trump closed negotiations with Canada after the province of Ontario aired a negative ad about tariffs

Politics

3 d. ago Trump administration blocked from suspending Snap benefits for millions of Americans

One judge issued temporary restraining order while another judge ruled the government must continue to fund program that helps low-income householdsUS politics live – latest updatesTwo federal judges issued back-to-back rulings on Friday in separate cases ordering the Trump administration to use contingency funds to continue paying for food stamps during the government shutdown.A federal judge in Rhode Island on Friday afternoon blocked the Trump administration from suspending all food aid for millions of Americans, in a case brought by a group of US cities, non-profit organizations and a trade union. Continue reading...

Politics

3 d. ago Trump live: President shuts down hope of trade talks with Canada after Reagan ad

Trump closed negotiations with Canada after the province of Ontario aired a negative ad about tariffs

Politics

3 d. ago Trump calls on Republicans to abolish the Senate filibuster rule

Calling Democrats ‘stone cold crazy’, president says ‘nuclear option’ is necessary to end government shutdownUS politics live – latest updatesDonald Trump on Thursday night called on Republicans to abolish the Senate filibuster to bring an end to the ongoing government shutdown and the standoff with Democrats.“BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT THE DEMOCRATS HAVE GONE STONE COLD ‘CRAZY,’ THE CHOICE IS CLEAR – INITIATE THE ‘NUCLEAR OPTION,’ GET RID OF THE FILIBUSTER AND, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!” Trump wrote on his Truth Social account. Continue reading...

Politics

3 d. ago SNAP food benefits set to lapse for 40 million as Republicans claim they can’t touch contingency funds: Live updates

Democrats are accusing Republicans of choosing not to pay out SNAP beneficiaries to pressure Democrats to vote with a continuing resolution

Politics