2 h. ago Keir Starmer sacks Peter Mandelson over Jeffrey Epstein revelations

Foreign Office says extent of US ambassador’s friendship with paedophile not disclosed when he was appointedUK politics live – latest updatesKeir Starmer has sacked Peter Mandelson as ambassador to the US over his association with Jeffrey Epstein.The Foreign Office minister Stephen Doughty told MPs that Mandelson had not disclosed the extent and depth of his friendship with Epstein, a paedophile financier, when he was appointed as the ambassador. Continue reading...

Politics

2 h. ago Keir Starmer sacks Peter Mandelson over Jeffrey Epstein ties

Foreign Office says extent of US ambassador’s friendship with disgraced financier not disclosed when he was appointedUK politics live – latest updatesKeir Starmer has sacked Peter Mandelson as ambassador to the US over his association with Jeffrey Epstein.The Foreign Office minister Stephen Doughty told MPs that Mandelson had not disclosed the extent and depth of his friendship with Epstein, a convicted child sex offender, when he was appointed as the ambassador. Continue reading...

Politics

3 h. ago Mandelson’s messages to Epstein were ‘disturbing and sickening’, says minister

Mike Tapp says it is important to ‘get to the bottom of this’ but says Keir Starmer retains confidence in ambassadorUK politics live – latest updatesPeter Mandelson’s messages to Jeffrey Epstein were “disturbing and sickening” and it’s “important that we get to the bottom of this”, a minister has said while insisting the PM retains confidence in the US ambassador.Mike Tapp, the immigration minister, said he was personally disturbed the emails Mandelson sent Epstein in 2008 while he faced charges for soliciting sex from underage girls, and that they left “a bad taste in the mouth”. Continue reading...

Politics

13 h. ago Mandelson told Epstein ‘your friends love you’ after 2008 charges as Starmer faces growing backlash: UK politics live

Prime minister defies pressure to sack US ambassador over links with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein

Politics

14 h. ago Mandelson told Epstein ‘your friends love you’ after charges as Starmer faces growing backlash: UK politics live

Prime minister defies pressure to sack US ambassador over links with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein

Politics

25 h. ago Starmer says he has confidence in Peter Mandelson despite resurfaced ties to Jeffrey Epstein – UK politics live

PM was grilled by Kemi Badenoch on suitability of Mandelson for job as US ambassador Helena Horton is a Guardian environment reporter.Emma Reynolds, the new environment secretary, had a difficult job this morning: meeting a group of farmers after Labour caused fury in the rural community by introducing a new inheritance tax.The Treasury reserve, designed to be used for “genuinely unforeseen, unaffordable and unavoidable pressures” has recently been used to fund higher public sector pay and compensation payouts.In a letter to ministers, the chancellor said Treasury would only consider providing reserve funds to departments that have already maximised their savings Continue reading...

Politics

26 h. ago Starmer backs Mandelson after ‘embarrassing’ Epstein birthday note revelations: UK politics live

Lord Mandelson says 2003 birthday message is ‘very embarrassing’

Politics

27 h. ago Keir Starmer will meet Israeli president Isaac Herzog as MPs express ‘grave concern’ at the visit – UK politics live

The visit is seen as highly contentious amid the war in Gaza and Israel’s bombing of Qatar in a targeted strike aimed at Hamas officialsPeter Mandelson, the British ambassador to the US, has spoken at length about how he regrets “very, very deeply indeed” his past friendship with the billionaire paedophile sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein.After new evidence about the extent of that friendship came to light yesterday, Mandelson gave an interview to the Sun’s editor-at-large in the US, Harry Cole, accepting that the disclosures were “very embarrassing to see and to read”.I just feel two things now – one, I feel a tremendous sense, a profound sense of sympathy for those people, those women, who suffered as a result of his behaviour and his illegal criminal activities.Secondly, I regret very, very deeply indeed carrying on that association with him for far longer than I should have done I just would say this during all the time I was an associate of his, I never saw the wrongdoing. I neve...

Politics

2 d. ago New home secretary Shabana Mahmood says she will not run for deputy leader after Labour accused of ‘stitch

Candidates will need backing of 80 MPs by 5pm on Thursday if they wish to standPaul Nowak, the TUC general secretary, used his speech to conference this morning to say that the TUC expected the government to deliver its workers’ rights bill “in full”. He said employment rights were “overwhelmingly popular with voters across the political spectrum”.And he condemned Reform UK for its stance on employment rights. After saying that Nigel Farage claimed to represent working class people, he went on:Here’s the truth – there is a world of difference between what Nigel says and what Nigel does.Every single Reform MP, including Mr Farage, voted against outlawing fire and rehire, against banning zero hours contracts and against day one rights for millions of workers.Ask yourself this fundamental question. Do you believe in your gut that that Nigel Farage really cares about the people of Clacton when he’s off collecting his speaker’s fees in the United States?Do you believe that Richard Tice r...

Politics

3 d. ago UK politics live: Thornberry and Haigh make Labour deputy leader pitches as race heats up

Labour’s national executive meeting to draw up plans for contest today

Politics

3 d. ago UK politics live: Starmer accused of deputy leader race ‘stitch

Labour’s national executive meeting to draw up plans for contest today

Politics

3 d. ago UK politics live: Emily Thornberry ‘first to jump into Labour deputy leader race’ as contest to kick off

Labour’s national executive meeting to draw up plans for contest today

Politics

3 d. ago UK politics live: Labour to launch deputy leadership race after Starmer completes cabinet reshuffle

Labour’s national executive meeting to draw up plans for contest today

Politics

3 d. ago UK politics live: Starmer completes reshuffle as new home secretary faces small boat Channel crossings crisis

A government source said ‘nothing is off the table’ for the new home secretary Shabana Mahmood

Society

4 d. ago Asylum seekers could be moved from hotels to barracks as Starmer’s immigration crackdown begins: UK politics live

A government source said “nothing is off the table” for the new home secretary Shabana Mahmood

Politics

4 d. ago Military sites could be used as temporary accommodation for asylum seekers, minister says – UK politics live

Starmer to ‘go up a gear’ as ministers consider changes to human rights laws in bid to head off Reform UKThe most significant moves in Starmer ’s reshuffle d cabinetConservative party chair Kevin Hollinrake has accused Reform UK of copying the former government’s migration policies.Speaking on Sky News this morning, Hollinrake said:All Reform are doing now – a few weeks ago they were talking about towing the boats back to France and they realised they couldn’t do that.And all their plans now are a copycat – exactly the plans that we had in the last government. Continue reading...

Politics

4 d. ago Ministers considering human rights reform in bid to head off Reform as defence secretary say Starmer going ‘up a gear’ – UK politics live

New home secretary Shabana Mahmood expected to to say asylum seekers will be moved from hotels to barracksJohn Healey also said Shabana Mahmood will be “just as tough as Cooper” on Palestine Action, the campaign group opposing Israel’s assault on Gaza that the government controversially proscribed under the Terrorism Act in July, making membership of or support of the group a criminal offence.More than 425 people were arrested in London yesterday at the largest demonstration yet opposing the proscription of Palestine Action.I think you’ll start to see Keir Starmer insist that dealing with the small boats, solving the immigration illegal immigration crisis, is part of the jobs the whole of government, not just the Home Office.So with the Home Office, I have been putting military planners into their Border Command and into their planning for the future, and we are looking at the potential use of military and non military use sites for temporary accommodation for the people who come ac...

Politics

5 d. ago ‘This is not chaos’: PM’s chief secretary defends reshuffle after Rayner’s exit

Darren Jones says Keir Starmer showed leadership by acting decisively after his deputy resignedUK politics live – latest updatesKeir Starmer’s government is not in chaos, the prime minister’s new chief secretary, Darren Jones, has said following an emergency reshuffle triggered by Angela Rayner’s resignation as deputy prime minister.The cabinet reshuffle, which had been planned for later in the autumn, was brought forward by Starmer in an attempt to assert control after Rayner was forced to step down from all three of her roles, having been found to have breached the ministerial code over her tax arrangements. Continue reading...

Events

5 d. ago Angela Rayner resigns over stamp duty fiasco as Starmer’s cabinet reshuffle begins: UK Politics live

Keir Starmer is set to begin a major cabinet reshuffle after saying he was 'very sad' Rayner's time in government had come to an end

Politics

6 d. ago Angela Rayner’s political future in balance with rule breach report due – UK politics live

Verdict expected today over whether she broke rules on ministerial standards when buying Hove flatRayner’s future in balance as lawyers say they did not offer tax adviceThe Windrush commissioner has demanded “urgent reform” of the compensation scheme after being told by survivors that “the Home Office is waiting for us to die off”.In a letter seen by the Guardian addressed to migration and equalities minister, Seema Malhotra, and shared with home secretary Yvette Cooper, Rev Clive Foster says it is “deeply concerning” that 66 people have died while waiting for compensation for the Windrush scandal.Given the age and health of many people affected by the scandal, reform is a matter of urgency. Justice must be delivered in their lifetimes.A phrase I’ve heard repeatedly from community members is that ‘the Home Office is waiting for us to die off’. While I don’t share this view, I believe it’s important that you hear it directly as it reflects the challenge you face in building trust.We ...

Politics